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' I HOW BOBBY AND JOE ACHIEVED SUCCESS IN BUSINESS 






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It was just as Bobby had said it would be: BOBBY & JOE’S. 

Page 152. 


Mr. Responsibility, Partner 

HOW BOBBY AND JOE ACHIEVED 
SUCCESS IN BUSINESS 


BY 

CLARENCE JOHNSON MESSER 


ILLUSTRATED BY CHARLES D. HUBBARD 



BOSTON 

LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. 


Published, August, 1912 




Copyright, 1912, 

By Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. 


All rights reserved 


Mr. Responsibility, Partner 


1 Rorwoo& pre00 

BERWICK & SMITH CO. 

NORWOOD, MASS. 


TO MY FRIEND, 


WILLIAM FREDERIC ANDERSON 

















ILLUSTRATIONS 


It was just as Bobby had said it would > 

be: BOBBY & JOE’S (Page 152) . Frontispiece ^ 

FACINQ PAGE 

She decided to sell, and the trade was made . . 28 

The relief expedition put new life into the snow- 
imprisoned passengers 58 ^ 

May-day ” was the time set for the outing . . 82 ^ 

I declare, I don’t know why I didn’t think of 
those before ” 122 / 

‘‘This is my Joe” 170/ 

“Say, Jim, I’ve been telling this gent that my 
mother used to cook here” 200 


A slip of a girl, with a dainty head prettily poised 270 











MR. RESPONSIBILITY, 
PARTNER 


How Bobby and Joe Achieved Success in 
Business. 

CHAPTEE I 

The Hawley farm. A lesson in carpentry. 

Planning a surprise. Building the raft. A 

surprised mother. 

‘^How fragrant the pond lilies are to-day!’’ 

It was Mrs. Hawley who made the remark. 
She was on the back piazza assisting her hus- 
band in the traihng of a vine over the porch 
treUis. 

^^No more fragrant than on other days, are 
they?” Mr. Hawley asked. ^Ht seems to me 
that they have the same odor through their 
season.” 

Mrs. Hawley laughed as she returned: 

suppose that I do not regard them just as 
you do. When I was a girl, scarcely a day 
passed in their season that there were not 
lilies on our dining-table. The scent fascinates 
me, and although it has come every year of the 
11 


12 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

twelve that we have lived here, there has never 
been a lily in the house. Sometimes I do just 
long for a few of them.’’ 

^^But when I otfer to get some you will not 
let me,” interrupted Bobby, her son, who had 
come from the barn in time to hear her last 
statement. 

‘‘I do not feel the want badly enough to allow 
my boy to go out on that treacherous water,” 
the mother said. ‘‘But one would think I had 
some great trouble by the way I am talking. I 
have the loveliest home in New Hampshire, the 
kindest husband, and the bravest son in the 
world, and it would take much more than the 
lack of a few lilies to put a shadow in my 
thoughts. ’ ’ 

With another laugh she released the end of 
the vine, which had now been made secure, and 
went indoors. 

Mr. Hawley started toward the bam and the 
boy followed, saying: 

“'It’s not more than three miles to the lily 
beds by the south road. I’m going round there 
and get her some. ’ ’ 

“I’ve never noticed that she craved the lil- 
ies,” said Mr. Hawley, who was also thought- 


THE HAWLEY FARM 


13 


fill. ^‘She often speaks of their fragrance, 
but—’’ 

have never heard her want anything 
else,” Bobby answered. ^^She is talking of 
them every day.” 

“Well, she wants you more,” was the quick 
response. “You could not get even a bud from 
the south road. There’s a mile of bog over 
there, before you reach any lilies.” 

It was Wednesday afternoon on a June day, 
which was considered the sultriest of the year 
down around the three large summer hotels in 
Thorndike. The Hawley farm, however, was 
as cool and fragrant as if it were located in 
another hemisphere. At the foot of the lake 
and on a height, a refreshing breeze fanned it, 
coming the full length of the great body of 
water. 

Bobby went to the tool-house to work on a 
figure-4 trap with which he intended to catch 
woodchucks. Throwing wide the windows he 
let in the sweet-scented air, and a few minutes 
later was hard at work. 

From those windows one could look upon 
an exquisite picture. The great, irregularly 
shaped sheet of white-capped blue, jutting into 


14 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

shores densely covered with evergreen, with 
here and there a wooded island fringed by 
shimmering white beaches, would have de- 
lighted any lover of nature, but Man had also 
contributed in the adornment of the scene. The 
white spire of the Thorndike Congregational 
church thrust a glistening slender pyramid 
above the green at the upper end of the lake, 
while the well-defined verandas of three sum- 
mer hotels, the ‘^Thorndike,’’ the ‘‘Thornton,’’ 
and the “Thorwald,” lent an enlivening aspect 
to the northern shore. 

To Bobby, this view was too familiar to be 
exacting. Occasionally he cast a glance from 
the window, but he was quite intent on his car- 
pentry. He had worked diligently for an hour 
when, suddenly turning, he saw his father 
standing in the doorway. The next instant a 
command came. 

“Don’t drive that nail in that way.” 

“It’s nothing but a box-trap, I’m making,” 
the boy replied. 

“But you are using nice half -inch stock. If 
you drive the nail with its wider side across 
the grain you’ll split your wood. No matter 
if it is only a box-trap you’re making. You 


THE HAWLEY FARM 


15 


may need that same lumber another day, and 
youTl have a bad-looking job, if you do not split 
the wood. Whatever you do, do it as well as 
you can. Start your nail the thin side with the 
grain of the wood and you’ll have a fine job, 
and can use the stock again.” 

The boy followed directions and made a 
clean, firm joining of the boards. His father 
said : 

^H’ve been thinking about the pond lilies. 
Perhaps we can get your mother some to-mor- 
row. ’ ’ 

Bobby turned a happy, expectant face, and 
Mr. Hawley went on : 

‘Hf you can wake up at four in the morning 
we’ll try to carry out a plan I have.” 

^H’ll wake up,” was the ready reply. The 
boy saw he was not to hear the plan at present, 
but he knew that whatever the plan was, it 
would be successful. Mr. Hawley was a loving 
father, but a man of serious, almost stern dis- 
position. In the directing of his son in the 
way he thought right, he sometimes appeared 
harsh, but Bobby had never suffered from too 
rigid treatment. He had been taught patience 
and self-control, and now he could wait until 


16 


MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


another time for the explanation of the plan. 
His father continued: 

“Better not speak of the matter at the house 
and there will be no disappointment or worry. 
Go to bed early, for a four o’clock in the morn- 
ing appearance is something you’re not accus- 
tomed to. I should not wonder if you over- 
slept — ” 

“Not when I am to do something which will 
give mother pleasure, ’ ’ was the confident reply. 
“I do not believe that I shall have to be called, 
even. ’ ’ 

That evening when Bobby spoke of going to 
bed as soon as supper was finished, the mother 
said, worriedly: 

“I have been wondering what made your face 
so flushed. Does your head ache, dear?” 

A quick glance passed between father and 
son, and the former suggested: 

“He’s been steadily at work carpentering. I 
guess it’s nothing but a healthful tiredness.” 

Mrs. Hawley was not satisfied. Many times 
during the evening her husband had to combat 
suggested dosings of the boy, but Bobby never 
slept sounder. 

A noise at his window finally awakened him. 


THE HAWLEY FARM 


17 


and springing from bed he looked out to see 
his father, who had a long pole in his hands 
with which he was tapping on the window pane. 

‘‘Well,^’ came in a muffled voice, ^^are you 
going to have anything to do with making this 
surprise ^ ^ ^ 

‘‘Is it late?’’ Bobby asked, sleepily. 

“It’s almost five o’clock.” 

“Can we do it?” The boy’s tone was anx- 
ious. 

“Perhaps we can, seeing that I have been at 
work on it for an hour and a half.” A low 
laugh accompanied the assurance. 

Bobby dressed quickly and hurried down 
stairs. His father had disappeared. The boy 
went to the bam. He had never been out at 
such an early hour before, and the overcast sky 
and dull blueness of everything confused him. 
The cold wind that came from the lake forced 
him to button his jacket closely about his neck. 

His father was not in the bam — neither was 
Bobbin in the stall. Finally he sighted them 
both down by the shore of the lake. 

“My, but I was sleeping hard!” the boy 
apologized, when he had reached the spot. 
“What have you got?” looking in surprise at 


18 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

three great logs which lay on the drag. ^ ‘ Have 
you been in the woods?’^ 

‘^Yes, IWe been in the woods. I took a 
youngster into partnership last night and we 
were going to do some work this morning. He 
did not turn up, so I had to do it alone. What 
do you think of a chap that doesn ’t come around 
on the first dayT’ 

^‘And you have brought down all these 
hoards this morning T’ Bobby was much 
ashamed of his failure to keep the appointment. 

‘‘Yes, I have done it all this morning. Now 
we must hustle if your mother is to have any 
lilies to-day.^’ 

With the log-hook Mr. Hawley worked the 
logs to the ground, and beside one another, 
measuring at each end to get them exactly par- 
allel. He next began measuring the boards, 
and Bobby understood it all. 

“It’s a raft you’re making,” he suddenly 
exclaimed. Taking the second hammer he was 
soon nailing the boards. 

“There must be two floors,” the father said, 
“to prevent your getting wet feet. Nail the 
shorter boards from the outside log to the mid- 
dle log, then finish that line with another board 


THE HAWLEY FARM 


19 


to the farther outside log. TJse the longer 
boards from outside to outside log, and he care- 
ful to cover the under seams. You can take 
charge of the floor and Vll make a rail to pre- 
vent your falling off the raft. Your mother 
would never have a minute’s peace while you 
were on the water if there was no rail.” 

Bobby was a quick worker, and soon had the 
under floor laid. Starting on the upper floor, 
he asked : 

‘ ‘ Did you plan all this since you got up T ’ 

‘^No. I planned the complete craft last 
night, before I decided that we might get the 
lilies. I shall put a weather-board a foot 
higher than the floor, and if a high wind should 
come up while you are away from shore, the 
water will not come on the raft. ’ ’ 

^^Will you put a flag-pole at one end?” 

“I hadn’t thought of it, but we can have one. 
You see if that partner of mine had come to 
work as he agreed — ” 

Bobby showed such distress that his father 
ceased disciplining him, but laughed away his 
unhappiness. 

‘‘I couldn’t help staying asleep,” the young 
fellow argued, mournfully. wanted to help. 


20 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


I have worked well since I got here, haven’t I?” 

‘‘Well, perhaps I wasn’t always on hand 
when I was your age,” the father admitted, and 
the boy brightened perceptibly. “I want you 
to see that there is a lesson for you in this slip- 
up. The sooner that you become acquainted 
with a certain old friend of mine named ‘Re- 
sponsibility,’ the better it will be for you. 
When I have anything important to do, ‘Re- 
sponsibility,’ will hardly allow me to sleep at 
all. He keeps right after me until every detail 
is worked out. He made me get up at half-past 
three this morning. He is a valuable person to 
have for a friend because he has seen, in this 
case, that your mother is to get the pond lilies 
this morning.” 

It was not a preachmg lesson — simply a 
good-natured talk while both worked — but 
Bobby will remember its application all his life. 

At half-past six the raft, with a flag flying, 
was pushed from the shore and headed for the 
lily beds. As the time grew nearer when the 
mother’s wish was to be gratified, the excite- 
ment of her son increased. 

“I hope she won’t catch us at it,” he said, 
half to himself. 


THE HAWLEY FARM 


21 


^‘She won’t. I told her last night that we 
were going to the woods this morning and that 
she could rest until I came back and built the 
fire. She is pretty tired and will take all the 
time that’s allowed her. Like all farmers’ 
wives, ^he has had few ^lazy mornings.’ ” 

The murkiness had disappeared before a 
glorious sunrise. That trip across the lake, on 
which he had never before been, the gathering 
of two dozen beautiful lilies, and the return 
stayed in the boy’s memory for many years. 

When they landed, Mr. Hawley hurried up to 
the house to prevent a failure of the surprise. 
Bobby had crept into the dining-room and had 
arranged the exquisitely scented flowers in the 
large punch-bowl and placed it in the center of 
the table when he heard his mother’s voice: 

‘‘The wind comes from the southwest. How 
much stronger the lily scent is than it was yes- 
terday, even! It makes me feel like a girl, 
again, and I would not be surprised to find a 
great bowl of lilies on the dining-table.” 

The boy had tiptoed to the back piazza. His 
face expressed deep disappointment. She 
knew all about it, or how could she have said 
such a thing as that? He heard her step ap- 


22 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

proaching ; then the disappointment disap- 
peared. 

There was plenty of astonishment and de- 
light in the cry she gave. 

‘‘John! Bobby! How on earth — Why, here 
is a whole dish of lilies ! ’ ’ 

“ You just said that you would not be sur- 
prised to find it, ’ ’ came in the even, blandishing 
tone of the father. 

Bobby came into the room and his mother 
said: 

“This is why you went to bed so early last 
night, and why I was given such a long rest 
this morning. What fine conspirators you are. 
I am ever so much pleased with the lilies, but 
I hope that you haven T found a way to get 
them that’s at all dangerous. I shall be fright- 
ened until I know all about it.” 

“We’ll show you just how the thing is done 
as soon as breakfast is over,” Mr. Hawley told 
her. “I guess you will think it is safe enough. 
Bobby can take you out to the lily beds before 
he goes to school and you can pick some your- 
self. It is as safe as all that. ’ ’ 

It would have been hard to tell which was 


THE HAWLEY FARM 


23 


the more excited, the mother who was to ex- 
perience something so new, or the son who was 
to have entire charge of her during the trip. 


CHAPTEE II 


The summer hotels. Bobby’s mother sells her 

PRESENT. A REGULAR TRADE IN POND LILIES. 

Thorndike was a junction town on the line 
of the C. & A. railroad. The Leicester and 
the Ellsworth branches, each thirty miles long, 
terminated there. 

Three times a day the Thorndike railroad 
station was a scene of activity. In the morning 
the branch trains connected with the north- 
bound local, at noon the north-bound and south- 
bound expresses met there, and the branch 
trains arrived and departed, and at night the 
branch trains met the south-bound local which 
connected at Hillsboro, forty-two miles down 
the line, with the express on the tunnel division 
for Boston. 

Five years before our story opens, the town 
of Thorndike was given a large hotel by the 
railroad, where summer guests were enter- 
tained. The enterprise was undertaken to 
bring extra travel to the road, and was so suc- 
24 


THE SUMMER HOTELS 


25 


cessful that the year following the opening of 
the Thorndike House/’ the ‘‘Thornton 
House ’ ’ was also erected, by the road. By this 
time there was a rush of travel to the pretty, 
hill-encircled town and an outside syndicate 
built the magnificent “Thorwald House” as a 
competitor to the railroad hotels. 

It was believed by the railroad people thax 
the syndicate had selected the name for their 
house with a view to confusing people, and se- 
curing guests who were intending to patronize 
the older houses, and there was much ill-feeling 
between the managements of the properties. 
The Thorwald was the most lavishly equipped 
and offered the same rates as the Thorndike 
and the Thornton and it was not long before it 
was getting the largest business. The town of 
Thorndike was greatly benefited by the opening 
of the third house, however, as a very wealthy 
class of people were constantly coming and 
going. 

On the morning when Bobby Hawley and his 
father had so completely surprised the boy’s 
mother, a lady and gentleman drove away from 
the Thorwald, taking the “Lake Road,” Thorn- 
ton’s most popular drive. Arriving at the foot 


26 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


of the hill at the lower end of the lake, the lady 
remarked, looking up the long ascent : 

^‘The Hawley place is more beautiful than it 
was last year. I have often thought that I 
could he happy on a farm if it were such a one 
as that.’’ 

There are but few farms in the country 
so pleasantly situated,” the man returned. 
‘ ‘ Hawley could get a lot of money for the place 
if he cared to sell it.” 

^‘The scent of the lilies would be an attrac- 
tion to me,” the lady said. ‘H should think 
that the Thorwald would have, some lilies in 
the office or in the dining-room. I used to won- 
der that there were none at the Thorndike last 
year. They are plentiful enough, judging 
from the scent.” 

‘H doubt if we get any of the lilies. There’s 
an uncomfortable impression regarding this 
lake. The Indians said it was bottomless, so 
the story goes, and unlucky for the person who 
ventures on it. At all events, these stories 
were given prominence when the Thorndike 
opened. The newspapers all over the country 
nearly ruined the first year’s business by their 
accounts of a drowning accident which befell 


THE SUMMER HOTELS 


27 


some guests. When the Thornton commenced 
business there was another drowning, and the 
papers found an old Indian who said that every 
pleasure party would meet the same fate. That 
put a damper on boating, which has never re- 
vived. ’ ’ 

The carriage had now reached the top of the 
hill. Suddenly the lady exclaimed: 

^^Why, Mrs. Hawley ^s front-room window is 
banked with lovely lilies ! ^ ^ 

The man stopped his horse; then, turning, 
drove to the door of the farmhouse. His ring 
at the bell was answered by Mrs. Hawley. 

Would you sell me some of your lilies, 
madam r’ he asked. 

‘^Oh, dear — but you’ll have to excuse me,” 
was the answer. don’t believe that money 
could buy these lilies. They were a present to 
me from my little boy and his father. I would 
be pleased if you would take a few as a gift. ’ ’ 

^‘How many are there in the window?” 

< < There are five dozen and I helped get three 
dozen of them myself. Aren’t they lovely?” 

^^They certainly are beauties and I will buy 
them in as nearly as possible their present ar- 
rangement, and give your price — ” 


28 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


^‘But I think I will not sell them,’’ was the 
laughing rejoinder; ‘‘you see I waited twelve 
years for them and they were a surprise to 
me.” 

“I would be willing to give five cents apiece 
for the lot,” the man persisted. “Your boy 
can get more, and if he were here I think he 
would advise you to wait one more day and re- 
ceive your surprise.” 

Mrs. Hawley’s quick mental calculation 
changed her view-point. The three dollars 
would give her boy a lot of pin money, and it 
was true that more lilies could be gotten when 
Bobby returned from school. She decided to 
seU, and the trade was made. 

When Bobby came at noon his first inquiry, 
after looking into the front room, was : 

“They don’t keep long after they are picked, 
do they?” 

“I sold them,” was the mother’s answer. 

“Sold them?” It was in as fully a surprised 
a shout as the mother had given early that 
morning. 

“Put your hand behind the clock and see 
what somebody thought they were worth.” 























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THE SUMMER HOTELS 


29 


Three dollars!’’ cried the boy, as he un- 
rolled the hills. 

gentleman and a lady took them. They 
were the first to pass up the hill this morning. 
I have thought since that perhaps more could 
be sold.” 

Mr. Hawley entered before the boy had re- 
covered from his astonishment. 

‘^Perhaps you have unwittingly run upon a 
considerable source of income,” he said. 

We ’ll have some more right away,” the boy 
declared. 

After dinner a hurried trip was made to the 
lily-beds, by all three, and besides being a very 
pleasant expedition, five dozen more buds were 
secured. 

‘A^'ou’ll have your present to-day, just the 
same,” Bobby said. 

When he went to school that afternoon an- 
other display adorned the front window. 

^ ‘ Sell them if you can, ’ ’ he shouted back. 

Two purchasers came for the second lot with- 
in an hour of Bobby’s departure. They ex- 
plained that they had seen Mr. and Mrs. Ayres 
return to the hotel and that there was much in- 


30 


MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


terest in the bouquet they had brought. These 
gentlemen had hurried to get a cluster and were 
pleased that some could be immediately secured. 

^‘YouTl have a run on them/’ one of the men 
declared. have never seen finer lilies.” 

Each went away carrying two-and-a-half 
dozen, consequently Mrs. Hawley was still with- 
out her present. 

That evening Mr. Hawley had caught some 
of his son’s excitement. 

^Hf the demand continues you will have a 
business of considerable importance,” he told 
the boy. ‘ ^ The novelty will wea;r off, of course, 
but I think you ought to sell a few every day 
if you make it known at the hotels that you are 
taking orders. It was your suggestion to get 
the lilies, and the business, if you make one, 
will be wholly yours. I will spend a little time 
with you if you cannot supply the demand 
alone. If prosperity shows a liability to turn 
your head I will declare you incompetent to 
manage large affairs and take the business to 
carry on, in trust.” 

^‘What does that mean?” asked the delighted 
boy. 

‘‘You’ll do the work, and I will manage the 


THE STOiMER HOTELS 


31 


finances/^ was the reply. ‘‘I’ll make an ac- 
counting to your estate.” 

“Don’t bother him, John,” Mrs. Hawley in- 
terposed. “He doesn’t know anything about 
estates.” 

“It won’t hurt him to learn about estates,” 
the father resumed. “When a boy of sixteen 
can make six dollars a day it is time he knew 
something of the responsibility that the posses- 
sion of money entails. There’s many a head of 
a family who would like his chance. It is posi- 
tively wicked to waste money, and it is equally 
as wicked to get a gratification from hoarding 
it. Bobby is under age and his estate consists 
of his parents. He is already possessed of an 
estate in the five hundred dollars left by his 
Aunt Lydia’s will, but he cannot touch it until 
he is of age. Here is another estate — a condi- 
tional estate in his service — which, if I had not 
agreed otherwise, would belong to me. He 
shall have all he makes, hut I want him to know 
how important a young fellow he has come to 
be, and that I expect him to show judgment in 
the handling of his property. ’ ’ 

“I won’t spend a cent unless you tell me I 
may,” Bobby promised, “but I wish I had a 


32 


MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


book and paper and pencil to keep the money 
right. ^ ^ 

^^You go and hitch np Dobbin and weTl carry 
some eggs down to Mr. Bradbury ^s store; then 
weTl get the book and other things/’ the 
mother said. 

In half an hour they were on the road. Bob- 
by’s enthusiasm was given full vent when he 
was alone with his doting mother. 

^‘Six dollars!” he exclaimed rapturously, 
didn’t think I would ever make so much 
money as that.” 

^^Six dollars is considerable,” she told him. 
‘‘But I think Papa would rather have you con- 
sider how much good can be done with it than 
have you consider only that you have it.” 

Mrs. Hawley told the grocer of the good-for- 
tune that had come to her son, and the boy was 
congratulated. The grocer had never espe- 
cially noticed him before and he began to think 
that he really was an important fellow, as his 
father had suggested. Afterwards, he bought 
his articles for the care of his money, then they 
started for home. They were passing the 
Thorndike House when a man raised his hand 
to attract their attention. 


THE SUMMER HOTELS 


33 


‘‘Isn^t this the Hawley boy?’^ the man asked, 
as they drew up. 

Yes, I’m Bobby Hawley,” the boy returned, 
understand that you are selling pond 
lilies.” 

‘^Yes, sir,” in a business-like tone. ‘‘Would 
you like some?” 

“What are you asking for them? Some of 
our people were saying that you had sold some 
Thorwald people some fine lilies.” 

“The gentlemen from the Thorwald paid five 
cents apiece for them.” 

“That’s a pretty stiff price, isn’t it?” 

“They are big lilies,” Bobby returned. He 
was anxious to make a trade without assistance. 
Two other gentlemen had approached, and the 
boy continued, in a voice which all could hear, 
“You know that Thorndike Lake is a pretty 
dangerous place and I have to look out and not 
get drowned.” 

The man laughed and gave an order. 

“My name is Charles Hamilton. You can 
leave three dozen with Mr. Brewster, the clerk 
of the Thorndike, and he will pay you for them. 
Can I have them in the morning?” 

“Before nine o’clock,” Bobby answered, en- 


34 


ME. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


tering the order in his book. He gathered the 
reins and was about to start, when he looked 
up and shouted to the retreating Mr. Hamilton, 
‘‘Thank you, sir.” 

“Wait,” called one of the gentlemen who had 
been listening; “if you can deliver another 
three dozen at the Thorndike at the same time, 
I T1 take them. Tell Mr. Brewster they are for 
Mr. Ashley.” 

Another entry was made in the book and 
another thankful acknowledgment given, and 
the team started away. 

“I guess the business will keep up,” the ex- 
cited boy exclaimed. “It will be fine to go out 
after lilies that are already sold. This is what 
father meant by the ‘demand.’ We shall have 
to get more than six dozen so that you can have 
some for yourself.” 

The boy told his father just what his pur- 
chasers had said, and just how he had answered, 
when he arrived home. 

“But suppose it should rain in the morning 
or a high wind should be stirring up the white- 
caps. Unless you deliver at nine o’clock you 
haven’t made your sales,” the father sug- 
gested. 


THE SUMMER HOTELS 


35 


Bobby began to walk the floor, his forehead 
wrinkled in thought. Finally he answered ; 

‘^IVe just got to get them, rain or not. 
IVe taken the orders and I won’t disappoint 
any one. I’ll keep close to the shore and there 
will be no danger. I did not think of rain or 
wind but there’s a good weather-board on the 
raft and I’ll take my shoes off. I’ll get the 
lilies if it blows like sixty.” 

^‘You’ll have them,” Mr. Hawley declared 
heartily. ‘H’ll go over with you. I see that 
you have become acquainted with my old friend, 
‘Responsibility.’ ” 


CHAPTEE III 

Balancing the books. A short lesson in physics. 

Mr. Hawley prediction that the novelty 
would wear oil was not borne out by the facts. 
The demand for the lilies remained steady 
throughout the season, and Bobby became well 
known in the lobbies of all three hotels, where 
he went each evening to secure orders. 

It was but natural that considerable atten- 
tion should be given the boy by Thorndike peo- 
ple, for it was known that the pond-lily business 
had become a source of surprising revenue and 
fathers and mothers held the young merchant 
up as an example to sons who had not shown 
any especial aptitude towards ‘‘making some- 
thing of themselves.’’ 

This view of his son’s accomplishment did 
not please Mr. Hawley. 

“He has done nothing smart,” he told his 
friend, Henry Bradbury, in the latter’s gro- 
cery store. “It was an accident in the first 
place, though he has followed it up pretty 
36 


BALANCING THE BOOKS 


37 


closely. I haven’t a doubt that any hoy in town, 
meeting the same conditions, would have done 
as well as he has. It has got to be something 
besides this to impress me that the boy is 
smarter than his mates. I call him mighty 
lucky, and that’s all.” 

It was for such remarks as this that John 
Hawley had come to be known as a ^‘just man.” 
He would not have anything for himself or any 
member of his family which did not belong to 
him. He wanted the cent which was due him, 
but he also insisted on paying the cent if it was 
due from him. His word was as good as his 
bond. 

It was probably because of the high esteem 
in which the man was held by his townspeople 
that there had been no interference with his 
son’s pond-lily business. Any father could 
have made a raft on the lines of the one already 
fashioned. It was known that there was money 
in the business. The lilies were free to any one 
who might go for them, but the Hawley boy 
was the only person who offered them for sale 
during that entire season. 

Mr. Hawley had opened a simple set of books 
for his son on the night of that first sale. A 


38 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


day-book carried memoranda of everything 
done, either in sales or expenses, and in the 
order which they occurred, and these were 
posted into the ledger every night, the boy^s 
mother being near by to see that the work was 
properly done. 

On the night that the hotels closed their doors 
for the season Mr. Hawley assisted in striking 
the balance, though his wife was still near at 
hand. The page showed: 


To expense bro’t 

for’d $ 22.60 


To cash in bank... 286.10 


By am’t bro’t for’d 

,$280.50 

8 23 1 

doz. Jacobs, Te. 

.60 

3 

“ Keith, Tn. , 

1.80 

2 

“ Todd, Te. . , 

1.20 

24 2 

Smith, Td.. 

1.20 

3 

“ Emery, Td . 

1.80 

25 10 

Thorwald 

7.20 

10 

“ Thorndike . 

7.20 

10 

“ Thornton . . 

7.20 


308.70 


$308.70 


‘‘What do you use the abbreviations forT* 
his father asked. 

“What a question for such a great man in- 
terposed Mrs. Hawley. ‘ ‘ How would he remem- 
ber where Mr. Todd and Mr. Smith should have 
the delivery made?’’ 

“That’s very good,” with a laugh. “I see 
that you lowered your price on the last day.” 


BALANCING THE BOOKS 


39 


‘‘I was wholesaling to-day/^ was the reply. 

‘‘It is a pretty big summer’s work for even 
a much older person than you. I didn’t ap- 
preciate what could be done, that’s sure. Of 
course you will not look for such good fortune 
next year. You’ll doubtless have competi- 
tion.” 

“Why, who would he a competitor with 
him?” Mrs. Hawley asked. “He thought of 
it first.” 

“Do you know that some one thought of a 
sewing-machine, and a typewriter, first — ^but 
some one else was building both as soon as it 
was found that people would buy them. Even 
a patented article can he stolen, so why would 
an idea he protected when the money-making 
ingredient is scot-free to everybody! He will 
have competition.” 

“There are no boys around here that will 
want to sail clear across the lake,” Bobby de- 
clared, confidently. “We live where we don’t 
have to sail very far. I would like to get me 
a good boat for next year. ’ ’ 

“Now don’t begin on that, dear,” interrupted 
Mrs. Hawley, quickly. “I shall not have a 
minute’s peace all winter for I shall think of 


40 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

nothing but that boat. YouTl be upset the first 
time you go out in it, I know you willP^ 

think we will get along without a boat,’’ 
Mr. Hawley said. 

‘‘But the raft pushes so hard,” Bobby com- 
plained. “If any other boy should go into the 
lily business I would want a craft that was 
faster than his — ” 

“We’ll fix false prows for the raft, and she’ll 
push easier and go fast enough — ” 

“And be just as safe as she is now?” en- 
quired the mother. 

“Just as safe. The raft in its present shape 
presents over five feet of breaking space to the 
water. If you put a needle carefully into a 
tumbler of water it will stay on top of the 
water. When water stays comparatively still 
a skin forms on it, so the needle will lie on that 
skin — ” 

“I’ve seen hundreds of lucky-bugs skating 
around on top of the water, down in the 
meadow,” Bobby broke in. “I didn’t know 
how they did it, but now I remember that they 
were going around like sixty on shiny water. 
That was the skin ? ’ ’ 

“Yes, let a lucky-bug, or a needle, break 


BALANCING THE BOOKS 


41 


through the skin and it will go to the bottom. 
The breaking of the skin sends water into mil- 
lions of molecules. When the raft breaks the 
water along its five feet of front it plays havoc 
with the water skin and sends it into hundreds 
of millions of molecules which form resistance 
to the progress of the craft. WeTl rebuild it 
so that the water skin will be pierced at only 
one point, and lessen the resistance and that 
will give a faster trip.’’ 

‘‘Which is just as safe?” again interposed 
the mother. 

“ Yes, ” laughed the father. “You won ’t for- 
get that feature of it, will you!” 

“I am so glad that there will he no boat. I 
don’t know anything about the water, but I 
could see that the raft could not tip over,” 
Mrs. Hawley concluded, satisfied. 

“We are going to study about the buoyancy 
of water at school,” Bobby said. “I’ll he glad 
to know because I never could see what kept 
those big ships we saw in Boston on top of the 
water. I should think the heavy things would 
sink.” 

“A ship-builder has something just as solid 
to build on as a railroad-builder. The ship- 


42 ME. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

builder knows that one foot below the surface 
of the water there is a buoyant pressure of 
about one-half a pound to the square inch of 
surface exposed to it. Ten feet below there 
is a buoyancy of five pounds to the square inch. 
This buoyancy not only presses upwards, but 
sideways. The more the ship is loaded, the 
lower she sits in the water and the greater the 
buoyancy that she receives. She can not sink 
unless she is cut badly in a collision and water 
gets inside her, and even then, the water-tight 
compartments they have now will keep her 
aloft. 

‘‘Then a ship is as safe as a railroad train T’ 
Mrs. Hawley asked. 

“More safe, because there is not so much 
chance of a smash in sailing ships. ’ ’ 

“I think I shall not be so frightened the next 
time I take a long sail,” she concluded. 

‘ ‘ The teacher told us about flying-machines, ’ ’ 
Bobby began. “I do not see how they stay 
up.” 

“Momentum and spread of wing keep them 
up,” the father explained. “There is an en- 
tirely different principle involved in the flying 
machine which is foreign to the method of pro- 


BALANCING THE BOOKS 


43 


pulsion in either ship or railroad. If the mech- 
anism in the flying-machine stops, down she 
comes. If the machinery in the ship or train 
breaks, she stands still until repairs can he 
made. I was looking at the goldfish in Lawyer 
Gordon’s bowl a few days ago and I got to 
thinking of flying-machines. The surface they 
present to the water is so slight that they have 
to keep little fins moving when they are not 
swimming. If those fins were fastened some- 
how, they would sink. ’ ’ 

‘‘You do not think flying-machines will be a 
success?” the wife asked. 

“I can’t see it, yet,” was the reply; “that 
is, a commercial success. A balloon is the 
safest of the air craft, because it is lighter than 
air and is given a buoyancy by the air, but in 
heavy storms I would not call it safe. When 
Bobby learns that a new principle has been dis- 
covered which will give a flying machine the 
stability of water craft, I will believe that nicely 
adjusted machinery, together with the newly 
found principle of stability will overcome the 
element of danger which is ever present in a 
flying-machine, to such extent that it is posi- 
tively unsafe.” 


44 


MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


^‘Well,’’ concluded Mrs. Hawley, guess 
this family will be satisfied with the raft, to do 
our traveling with — and Dobbin.^’ 


CHAPTER IV 


Plans for rebuilding the raft. Friend Responsi- 
bility AGAIN. The snow-storm. Mr. Bradbury’s 
ADVICE. The stalled train. “Bobby Hawley’s 
Relief Expedition.” 

It was not many weeks after tke three great 
hotels had been boarded against the winter 
storms before Mr. Hawley got the raft out of 
the water, and on the first frost Dobbin drew 
it to a shed which had been built alongside the 
tool-house, and connected with it. 

‘‘Now she^s snug and tight and we can work 
on her as odd jobs,’’ he said. “I wouldn’t 
wonder if your mother did not know her in the 
spring. We will make her oval. The Monitor, 
that destroyed the Merrimac during the Civil 
War, was oval. She hadn’t a projection ex- 
cept her prow to break the water skin that I 
told you about. I’ve been thinking — ” 

“What?” demanded the impatient boy, for 
his father was still thinking. 

“We can carry two fixed tubs, or boxes, one 
on each false prow, to stow the lilies in, and 
45 


46 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

one of these boxes can be made higher at the 
cutwater, and a bowsprit can be supported on 
it. Then we could add a mast and you would 
not have to push the craft. You could sail 
her.’’ 

‘^Mother would have half a dozen fits if sails 
were put on.” Bobby’s voice had a regretful 
tone because of the seeming impossibility of the 
improvement. 

‘^Not if we convince her that there would be 
no danger, even from a sudden squall of wind,” 
Mr. Hawley returned. have known her 
longer than you have, and I never knew a per- 
son more amenable to reason. Don’t you judge 
her from her love of you.” 

Some days later Mr. Hawley brought to the 
kitchen table a drawing of the raft as she would 
appear when the changes were made. 

‘^You must have thought a lot over this,” 
Bobby said. 

‘^My old side-partner, ^Responsibility,’ kept 
at me because he knew that you would want to 
be at work on her pretty soon. I think you’ll 
be satisfied with the outcome. ’ ’ 

‘‘Don’t you think that I am getting pretty 
weU acquainted with that fellow, Responsi- 


PLANS FOR REBUILDING THE RAPT 47 

bilityT’ Bobby asked. ‘‘I think out things, 
sometimes. ’ ’ 

^‘He wasn’t very close to you last week when ) 
you forgot to deliver the letter from your Aunt ' 
Mary and thereby made her pay her fare up 
from the train.” 

It was done good-naturedly, but it cut very 
deep. His father had not said one word about 
that oversight, before. Bobby thought a long 
time, then remarked, a great part of the confi- 
dence removed from his voice, won’t brag 
any more, but I’ll try to get him to take some 
notice of me.” 

Mr. Hawley laughed at the lugubriousness of 
the tone, but he was serious enough when he 
resumed : 

<< Forgetfulness is one of the first things that 
Responsibility puts out of business. It’s a 
good thing it’s so, for forgetfulness is the cause 
of one-half of all the mistakes and failures that 
occur. Heedlessness starts from forgetful- 
ness, and it is heedlessness that makes the en- 
gineer run his train by the danger signal, and 
the pilot take chances that throw his ship on 
the rocks. If you get in right with Responsi- 
bility, forgetfulness and heedlessness will give 


48 


MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


you a wide berth, and youTl be sure to come 
out on top.’^ 

As November came in Bobby was too busy 
with other things to spend much time remak- 
ing the raft. He had never before been able 
to give presents for Christmas, but now he was 
indulging himself — buying with his own 
money. What he purchased went to the debit 
side of his ledger, but there was no need now 
for other eyes than his own to oversee that 
book. In his commode drawer, well boxed, he 
had a pretty watch for his mother, and in an- 
other box was a safety razor which his father 
was to receive. 

December was a month of snows that year. 
Many a day the school was closed and the boy 
and his father worked on the raft because the 
weather was too boisterous to allow any pleas- 
ure in being out of doors. The snow covered 
the fence tops, and in each lull the beaten sleigh- 
track was as high as the window-sills. The 
morning of the twenty-third of December 
opened with the hardest blizzard the section 
had known in ten years. 

‘‘And I promised Mr. Bradbury that I would 
surely bring down every egg we could spare, 


PLANS FOR REBUILDING THE RAFT 49 


this morning, ’ ’ Mrs. Hawley complained, as she 
viewed the wind-whirled snow through a hole 
she had melted in the frost-covered window 
pane. 

^HTl carry the eggs down,’^ Bobby volun- 
teered; ^HTl put the saddle on Dobbin — 

‘^Not in such an awful storm as this,’’ ob- 
jected the mother. ^‘Mr. Bradbury will not 
have many customers, anyway. ’ ’ 

^‘You promised to have them there,” inter- 
posed Mr. Hawley. ^Ht won’t hurt Bobby a 
particle to go down. It will be a lark for both 
him and Dobbin. You seem to forget that he 
is almost seventeen years old.” 

In half an hour the boy and the horse were 
weathering the fierce gusts and the whirling 
snow. Dobbin lowered his head and his vigor- 
ous shakes showed that it was not really un- 
pleasant to him. As they passed along the 
main street people opened doors and shouted to 
him to bring up their mail. Their voices 
sounded away otf, and Bobby laughed back, as 
they slammed the doors in the face of the driv- 
ing snow. When he arrived at the grocery 
store, Mr. Bradbury received him with a glad 
hail. 


50 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

‘‘You’re all right,” was the grocer’s greet- 
ing. “Your eggs will help me out amazingly. 
I had begun to think I would have to stand off 
my customers to-morrow, too. Now let me tell 
you something to keep under your hat. It’s 
such a time as this that a fellow can get all the 
good there is in a trade. The man who buys 
is put under an obligation for being allowed to 
pay. I was pinched for the want of eggs. 
When a man is pinched, help him out. Don’t 
let a little snow stop you. You have an oppor- 
tunity to do some good, and you want to grasp 
it.” 

Bobby felt quite embarrassed. Mr. Brad- 
bury had never said so much to him before in 
all his life. It was evident to the boy that this 
was a time when a man was glad to pay the 
money. 

It looked as though the boy was the only per- 
son who had ventured on Thorndike’s streets. 
No attempt had been made to break out the 
sidewalks. In spite of the dreariness of it, 
Bobby enjoyed every minute. He was warmly 
dressed and his touch on Dobbin’s neck always 
brought forth a cheerful whinny. He was 
heading toward the depot, attracted by the 


PLANS FOR REBUILDING THE RAFT 51 


desolateness of everything, when he heard his 
name called. Mr. Marsh, the station-master, 
was coming towards him, waist-deep in the 
drifts. 

^Ms your father down?” Mr. Marsh’s shont 
was so deadened by the howjing storm that 
Bobby did not try to speak. He shook his 
head in the negative. The depot-master was 
nearer when he called : 

wanted to tell him that the local that onght 
to be in last night is stuck in the snow, some- 
where. There’s a couple hundred people on 
her that are mighty hungry, I’m thinking. If 
John was down we’d try to see if we couldn’t 
get to her with some food.” 

Bobby never could explain how it happened, 
but he was aware of Mr. Bradbury’s words 
coming back to him — those which he was to keep 
under his hat. 

Don’t stop because it snows. When a man 
is pinched, help him out. When you have an 
opportunity to do some good you want to grasp 
it.” 

In a minute he had said, for he thought that 
women and children were hungry as well as 


men : 


52 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 
get food to the train. 

^^YouT’ the howl of the storm could not 
drown the astonishment in that shout. The 
next came in an eager voice, and the station- 
master’s face showed newly awakened interest, 

^ ‘ I believe you could do it. ’ ’ 

If there had been a particle of indecision in 
the boy, it was gone now. A man had expressed 
confidence that he could do it. He shouted as 
loudly as he could : 

‘‘Where do you think the train is?” 

“Must be in Pile Canyon,” was the reply. 
“Likely the engine’s off the track. Wires are 
all down and we don’t know anything about 
it.” 

Bobby went to the post office and finding no 
mail for anybody, got back to Mr. Bradbury’s 
store as quickly as possible. Short as the trip 
was, the boy had time to do some planning. 

‘ ‘ Put up all the sardines and bread and such 
stuff you have,” he shouted as he entered. 
“Last night’s local is up in Pile Canyon and 
there’s a lot of people on her. I’m going to get 
some food to them.” 

Mr. Bradbury stared ; Bobby went on : 

“I’ll tell the people along the road to get 


PLANS FOR REBUILDING THE RAFT 53 


what stuff they have to you, and ITl pay for 
it. I Ve got money enough and I can sell all we 
can carry to the train. This is one of the times 
when people will think the chance to pay, puts 
them under an obligation.’’ 

Mr. Bradbury had recovered himself. 

^‘By George, I didn’t waste any lecture on 
you to-day, did I? You’ve taken my advice 
quicker than any one else ever did. Get home 
as soon as you can. You’ve got a father who 
will help you out in this, and you can count on 
me, too.” 

Bobby pushed Dobbin hard on the homeward 
trip. At each house he called some one to the 
door and told of the stalled train, offering to 
buy such food as might be for sale if it was 
brought to the grocery store. AVhen he reached 
home, Mr. Hawley offered at once to see him 
through with the undertaking. 

We ’ll take the two big horses and the bob- 
sled,” Mr. Hawley proposed. ^‘Dick and 
John can pull us to Pile Canyon in three hours 
in a storm twice as bad as this one. ’ ’ 

Mrs. Hawley could not sufficiently admire her 
son, but she took time enough from that occu- 
pation to clean off her Christmas pantry shelves 


54 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

to back up tbe expedition for the relief of the 
stalled passengers. 

^‘ITl bundle up and go down, too,’^ she said. 
‘‘I will stay with Mrs. Bradbury until you come 
back. ’ ’ When the team came up to the door she 
was ready to undergo her first experience in a 
blizzard on a bob-sled. 

There was a different aspect down town when 
Bobby came up to the grocery store, this time. 
The blizzard still raged, but there was no indi- 
cation of the stillness of the morning. Women 
were struggling through the snow with edibles 
and four double-hitch sleds stood waiting the 
need of their services. A number of rigs were 
on hand to do the work of road-breaking. 

At half-past three in the afternoon, every- 
thing was in readiness for the start. Only one 
of the double hitches was needed, and the goods 
were distributed evenly between that and the 
Hawley team. Each load carried a large wash- 
boiler of coffee, great cans of milk, pies, dough- 
nuts, bread, sandwiches, hams, coal for heating 
the coffee in case the fuel on the train was ex- 
hausted, and a large jack to be used to lift the 
engine on the tracks if there had been such an 
accident as to derail it. Twelve light runners, 


PLANS FOR REBUILDING THE RAFT 55 

each carrying two men with shovels, stood in 
procession, as Mr. Hawley gathered up his 
reins. Bobby was beside his father. 

The start had commenced when Mr. Marsh 
came hurrying over from the station, holding 
up his hand to delay them. The procession 
stopped. 

<<IVe got a line to Hillsboro,’^ shouted Mr. 
Marsh. ‘‘Here’s a message from Mr. Hender- 
son. I wired him what was being done. I’m 
going along with you. ’ ’ 

The station-master put the message in Bob- 
by’s hand, hut the boy passed it to his father, 
who read, in a loud voice : 

“Robekt Hawley, Thoendike: Am advised 
of what you are doing for the relief of the pas- 
sengers on south-hound local due at your town 
yesterday. Supply passengers without charge 
and send the bill to the road. I’ll see that it is 
promptly paid. Your effort greatly appreci- 
ated. 

“Hendekson^, Div. Supt.” 

It was the cheer which went up from the half 
a hundred men present which gave Bobby the 


56 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


full realization that he had done something im- 
portant. He was a very happy boy as he saw 
the fond, proud smile on his mother’s face as 
the teams moved away. 

There was one more interruption and it 
caused another cheer. Mr. Bradbury came 
running out to throw a cloth over Mr. Hawley’s 
load. On the cloth was painted in large letters : 

Bobby Hawley’s Relief Expedition. 

There was no doubt in any mind about the 
expedition’s getting to the train, for it was in 
charge of John Hawley. Beside his father 
stood Bobby, the proudest boy that had ever 
been raised in Thorndike. 


CHAPTER V 

The stalled train. Bobby receives a snub from 

THE ENGINEER. A HANDY CROWD OP ThORNDIKERS 

ARE BROUGHT HOME. BobBY MEETS THE SUPERIN- 
TENDENT OF THE Division. 

No one of that party remembered such an- 
other storm as this, which the relief expedition 
was fighting. They had not cleared the out- 
skirts of the town before a change in the 
makeup of the procession was found necessary 
on account of the slowness of their progress. 

A consultation was held, and although Mr. 
Marsh and Bobby’s father endeavored to keep 
the boy covered from the fiercest of the blasts, 
he would not stay behind them, but came where 
he could see and hear all that occurred. 

Two double hitches abandoned their runners, 
the men mounting the horses and traveling 
ahead. The light runners were started in 
pairs, and by the time the five pairs had leveled 
the furrows the four mounted horses had made, 
the loaded bob-sleds had quite a comfortable 
road. 


57 


58 


MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


It was still slow work, however, and Bobby 
remembered it all for a long time. The sleet- 
caked horses strained, and the sled creaked. 
Men shouted. Trees thrashed in the wind and 
the snow flew every way. Every time the men 
on the bob-sled held any conversation it was 
in a roar. 

miscalculated on the time it will take,’’ 
Mr. Hawley shouted to Mr. Marsh. we 

make it in five hours we’ll do well enough.” 

There were a few farmhouses scattered along 
the route, but their occupants preferred to stay 
inside, for although the shouting was unusual 
in that neighborhood, no doors were opened to 
ascertain the cause. As night came on the ap- 
pearance of desolation seemed to increase. 

The journey ended, but when the procession 
came to Pile Canyon there was no noisy ap- 
proach. Men and horses were too tired to put 
out any more exertion than what was actually 
required to keep in motion ; yet when Mr. Haw- 
ley ’s bob-sled arrived, the entire train knew 
that their long fast was about to be broken. 

The relief expedition put new life into the 
snow-imprisoned passengers at once. Mr. 
Hawley’s men cut wood, and replenished the 



The relief expedition put new life into the snow-imprisoned 

PASSENGERS.— 58 . 



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THE STALLED TRAIN 


59 


fires in the cars. Children ceased wailing and 
went to sleep after long drinks of warmed milk. 
Men and women brightened up under the 
strength which plenty of food gave them, and 
the entire aspect was changed in a few minutes. 

Bobby Hawley’s Relief Expedition” was well 
advertised through the grateful hearts of those 
he had succored. There was nothing to pay, 
and when the people heard of the order to dis- 
tribute food free of charge, which the Division 
Superintendent had sent over the wires, there 
was an end of the complaint against the road 
because of the discomforts Women settled 
themselves for sleep and the men smoked and 
played cards in much the same way that they 
do on an ordinary train trip. 

Bobby went early to the engineer with his 
father. That official, with the conductor, was 
cross and discouraged. 

We’ve got the worst engine on the road,” 
the engineer growled. ‘Hf we had anything 
better than a two-quart teapot, we’d have 
stayed on the rails. The thing ain’t big 
enough to haul a train and carry a couple of 
jacks at the same time, so we’re hung up until 
some one comes along and gives us a lift.” 


60 


MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


Mr. Hawley made an examination of the en- 
gine’s position. 

‘‘We’ve got a couple of jacks,” he said. 

“Oh, you have!” The engineer began to 
arouse himself from the cab-seat. ‘ ‘ Come, you 
kid, better get back in the train. You’ll only 
be in the way, here,” he called. 

Bobby, to whom the last remark was made, 
flushed to the roots of his hair. He had climbed 
into the engine, and was looking around with 
intense curiosity. He was backing down the 
steps when the fireman grasped him by the arm. 

“You know whose pie you’re eatin’, Tomp- 
kins ! ” he asked. 

“Well, whose is it?” The surly engineer 
held the pie aloof as if awaiting a referee ’s de- 
cision on the matter. 

“It was brought by this young feller you’re 
so cocky to. It’s him that’s f cedin’ you.” 

Amazement had come over the grimy face. 

“Say, sonny,” the harsh tone apologetic, 
“fergit what I said. You own the engine. So 
you’re the chap that’s brought the relief expe- 
dition. That’s a good slab of pie, and if I had 
another I’d eat it.” 

Bobby had recovered from his confusion. 


THE STALLED TRAIN 


61 


The man’s rough speech and strange expres- 
sions interested him. 

‘‘I’ll get you some more, and some coffee, 
too,” he said. 

He was away, and soon returned with a quart- 
measure of coffee, besides sandwiches and pie. 
The engineer took a long draught from the 
measure, then passed it to his fireman. Bobby 
was watching the besmeared men as if they 
were curiosities. When the engineer had fin- 
ished his portion of the food, he went to the 
side of his engine and looked at Mr. Hawley, 
who was still studying the position of the en- 
gine. Bobby came as near as possible, in an- 
ticipation of a delight in the conversation the 
uncouth man would make, and heard : 

“Hi, somebody down there. Where’s 
Tucker f ’ ’ 

The conductor came around the head of the 
engine, and called : 

“What d’ye want?” 

“Have you eat?” 

“Yes, I’ve eat.” 

“Well, are you going to stay in this gulch 
the rest of your life? What d’ye think we’re 
havin’ here, a lodge meetin’?” 


62 


MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


‘‘I guess I will, if I have to depend on you to 
git me out. I ain’t runnin’ the engine.” 

The engineer brought his head quickly into 
the cah. He was rubbing his chin reflectively, 
for the conductor’s thrust seemed to have hit 
him hard, when Bobby said to him : 

“My father has the two jacks he told you 
about, and the men who came up will do any- 
thing he asks them to. There’s about forty 
of them and they’ve got picks and shovels and 
ropes besides the jacks.” As the old man made 
no comment whatever, the boy went to the side 
of the cah and shouted, “Hey, father. Come 
up and talk to Mr. Tompkins about getting the 
train moving.” 

Mr. Hawley came “up” and after a quarter- 
hour a plan was formed which would give the 
relief expedition further work. The engineer 
announced it through the cah window in a spite- 
ful bellow. 

“Hi, Tucker! Hawley’s going to get me on 
the iron and I’m going to take his men and 
teams down to Thorndike. ’ ’ 

“How’ll you take the bosses? In the en- 
gine ? ’ ’ was the spiteful retort. 

“We’re going hack to Sutton’s sawmill and 


THE STALLED TRAIN 


63 


bring up two empty box cars and a flat that’s 
there on Siding 22.” 

‘ ‘ Go ahead with your plan, Tompkins, ’ ’ inter- 
posed Mr. Marsh. take the responsibility. 

Tucker is oft his schedule and is running a dead 
train. There hasn’t a wheel turned on this di- 
vision to-day, so there’s no orders.” 

The relief party was divided, five men stay- 
ing with the engineer, and the remainder under 
Mr. Hawley going back to Sutton’s mill. Of 
the larger party, twenty-five men shoveled the 
track out, the others going ahead to locate a 
section shed and get a hand-car which they were 
to convert into a snow-plow. 

Bobby stayed with the engine and saw 
stringers put beside the track and the jacks 
placed on them. The bogie-truck, only, was oft 
the rails. In three hours it was back again and 
the train was backing to the mill. 

Close to the switch of Siding 22, Mr. Haw- 
ley’s gang had the improvised snow-plow, and 
when the train had passed, it was run out on the 
main track. The engine and baggage-car came 
up and were run down after the freight cars — 
then the entire train pulled back to the en- 
trance of the canyon. 


64 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


^‘That’s a good plow,’’ the engineer said. 
‘^You’ve got some good mechanics in Thorn- 
dike. ’ ’ 

He was a different man now that he saw a 
possibility of getting on his way. He was con- 
fidential with Bobby, who was having the time 
of his life in the engine, watching everything. 

^‘You find Tucker and tell him that as soon 
as the Thorndikers get Pile Canyon shoveled 
I’m ready to start, and I’ll keep going,” he 
told the boy. 

Bobby found the conductor and delivered the 
message, then went through the train. 

^^How you coming on I” a man asked him. 

‘‘You’ll be in Thorndike by one o’clock, the 
engineer says,” was his answer. 

“You’re the fellow that sold the pond lilies at 
the Thorwald last summer, aren’t you?” the 
man continued. 

“Yes, I had the lilies.” 

“Well, you ought to get more than you made 
all summer for this job. It would have been 
a starved crowd if you hadn’t brought your re- 
lief expedition up. The railroad didn’t do any- 
thing to help us out after starting us off with 
a crippled engine. If we had stayed here an- 


THE STALLED TRAIN 


65 


other night there would have been some law- 
suits.’’ 

It was a slow trip down, for every few min- 
utes the shovelers were called on, to dig out 
the plow. With the allaying of the excitement 
the boy felt a drowsiness creeping over him. 
When the train arrived at Thorndike he was 
sound asleep on the fireman’s seat. 

The next thing he was conscious of was that 
there was a big light from another locomotive 
glaring down on him, and he was in the midst 
of a crowd, some of which were Thorndike men 
and others were the people who had been pas- 
sengers on the stalled train. His father was 
holding him and trying to get him on his feet, 
and at the same time was saying: 

‘^Come, wake up. Mr. Henderson, the Su- 
perintendent of the Division, has got here on an 
engine to help the local, and he wants to speak 
to you. ’ ’ 

Bobby saw the big man, who looked down on 
him with a smile, as he said : 

^^So you’re the chap that has done all this. 
Well, it will be a good night’s work for you.” 
Turning to the men who had assisted in getting 
the train through, he asked: ^^Are you men 


66 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

willing to let tliis job stand to the credit of the 

boyr^ 

^‘Sure!^’ came in a sbont. One man added, 
‘ ‘ He started it ! We just bad the fun ! ^ ’ 

^Hf there’s any man who wants pay for bis 
labor I’ll settle with bim now,” tbe Superin- 
tendent went on. 

Not a man came forward. 

‘‘All right, men. Tbe road is obliged to you. 
That’s all I can say now. We’ll set off tbe 
freight cars and you can unload your teams 
when you have a mind to;” then to Bobby, 
“You needn’t send in any bill. I’ll see that tbe 
road settles with you for tbe whole thing.” 

Bobby did not know how be got home for be 
went to sleep again as soon as tbe bob-sled was 
off tbe car and be could be wrapped in tbe robes. 
When be next awoke, tbe sun was shining into 
his room. His little clock pointed to twenty 
minutes of twelve. He went to bis window and 
saw that bis father bad shoveled tbe paths and 
be realized that be bad been undressed and put 
to bed without awakening. He thought tbe 
clock must be wrong until be beard his mother 
come to the downstairs door and listen, and be 
called : 


THE STALLED TRAIN 


67 


What time is it, Mother T’ 

It ’s dinner time, ’ ^ was the answer. 
We’re waiting for yon.” 


^^Hnrry 


CHAPTER VI 


Disposing op the money. A father’s and a 

mother’s way of giving a boy home schooling. 

The portion of capital and labor. 

The ‘^Relief Expeditions^ furnished the sub- 
ject for nine days’ talk — not only in Thorndike, 
but also the whole country got an account of it 
in the newspapers. In a week the railroad com- 
pany had sent the boy three hundred dollars 
and a railroad pass which would enable him to 
travel anywhere on the company’s lines for 
three years without payment. 

^ AVell,” said Mr. Hawley, as he regarded the 
amazed boy, ‘^what do you propose to do with 
all that money?” 

^‘He will have to pay for the food people 
contributed. I have an account of everything, ’ ’ 
interposed Mrs. Hawley. 

‘including the forty pies and the wash-boiler 
of coffee you sent?” queried the father, with a 
twinkle in his eyes'. 

‘^No, I did not charge for our part.” 

‘‘Although the men who carried the stuff and 
68 


^DISPOSING OF THE MONEY 


69 


did the work would not accept anything from 
the railroad company, I shouldn't wonder if 
they would take a little present from Bobby, 
in payment for their time and the use of their 
teams,’’ Mr. Hawley suggested. There were 
forty of them and I know every man who was 
there. Two dollars and a half each is not big 
pay for what they did, and although Ben Davis 
said he did it for the fun there was in it, he could 
use a little money any time it came his way. 
Bobby was the instigator of the whole thing, but 
he had to have helpers and I believe in paying a 
man if he does something to help me along in 
this world. I think that one hundred dollars, at 
least, should be divided among the helpers. 
Let them have a dance, or do anything they like 
with the money, if they don’t want to keep it, 
but it will stop many a hard after-thought, and 
show only justice if they have a portion of the 
money that was given. I believe also that it is 
right that his mother should get pay for her 
pies and coffee.” 

Tompkins, the engineer, said it was a good 
slab of pie,” Bobby broke in, with a laugh. ‘Ht 
was mother’s pie he had eaten, too.” 

^‘We’re obliged to Tompkins, but the praise 


70 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

was not necessary to the members of her fam- 
ily/’ the husband continued, and Mrs. Hawley 
looked her pleasure. ^‘As for getting payment, 
she did the work and will have to do it over 
again. Bobby is the capitalist as the business 
has turned out, but both capital and labor have 
their rights.” 

figured that outside of my own contribu- 
tion — reckoning at the price Mr. Bradbury 
charges for such food — forty dollars ought to 
pay for everything that came from the store 
and from Thorndike people,” Mrs. Hawley 
said. 

^^And if you added yours?” 

‘^At ten cents each for pies and twenty cents 
a quart for colfee, mine would come to twelve 
dollars.” 

^‘Twelve dollars represents your material 
and labor. I guess that as long as the bill has 
been so well paid, you’re entitled to your share. 
There’s something which Bobby wants to learn 
right now, and that is that no man can get every- 
thing while others get nothing in this world, 
without a serious condition following. I want 
him to be zealous and get all that rightfully be- 


DISPOSING OF THE MONEY 


71 


longs to him, but never to let avarice carry him 
further. ’ ’ 

he paid the men a hundred dollars, and 
for the food fifty-two, do you think the rest 
would be too much for him to keep?’^ 

Mrs. Hawley showed a little anxiety as she 
asked it. 

‘Ht^s a pretty good percentage for capital,’’ 
Mr. Hawley answered, laughing. ^^Y'ou know 
he did not have to put out a cent — ” 

‘‘But he would have had to if the railroad had 
not done what it has. ’ ’ 

“Bobby ran no risk whatever. He could 
have sold everything that was carried to the 
train. Of course he conceived the idea and he 
should be paid for it. He promoted the scheme, 
and having the confidence of the neighborhood, 
he got their food. That confidence represents 
a function of capital and is worth a portion of 
the receipts ; but he could not have worked his 
plan beyond its conception if it had not been 
for me and the other men who had horses, and 
the people who had food to furnish. Now you 
want him to get one hundred and forty-eight 
dollars, and I think that would be an unfair di- 


72 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


vision, considering the actual part he took in 
the matter.^’ 

^^But, John, you know that people who have 
the money and the — the influence, or confidence 
of the public, always get the largest share — 

‘‘Not always fairly. In this case all the peo- 
ple who furnished food used time that was 
wasted, to them, because they must do the work 
all over again to supply their own needs. 
Bobby should pay for that time because he has 
made money on that time. If he keeps one 
hundred dollars and gives the men three dollars 
each and pays eighty dollars around among the 
food contributors, everybody will be pleased 
and satisfied. 

It was decided that the money should be so 
divided. 

“How will I get it paid?^’ the boy asked. 

“Deposit the check in the First National 
Bank and draw checks against it until every- 
body is paid. You will have proof that you 
have paid each person, for each check must be 
endorsed by the person to whom it was made 
before the money will be paid. ^ ^ 

“I did not know boys could have check- 


DISPOSING OF THE MONEY 


73 


books/’ Bobby said; ‘‘I don’t have any at the 
savings bank.” 

^‘Because that is a bank for savings. The 
national banks are for assistance in business. 
You can deposit to-day and draw to-morrow. 
By their use a man need not have a cent of 
money on him, and a boy can have a bank ac- 
count if his parents desire him to have one. I 
guess it will be a better idea to use the national 
bank than I first thought. It makes another 
kind of bookkeeping for you, and it should 
make a boy better trained to take care of his 
money. ’ ’ 

The check was carried to the bank the next 
day, Mr. Hawley going with the boy. 

‘‘He’s a pretty young merchant,” the bank 
cashier remarked, smiling. 

“That’s a fault that will soon be corrected,” 
Mr. Hawley returned. 

The cashier laughed, and shook Bobby’s 
hand, as he commented: 

“Thorndike is proud of its merchants, and 
we all know that this one has had a very re- 
markable career.” 

Mr. Hawley opened the check-book for the 


74 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


boy that evening. Bobby wrote the checks and 
entered the payments on the stubs. 

‘^YouVe made four checks of three dollars 
each/^ the watchful father instructed. ^^You 
add up these amounts and place twelve dollars 
at the bottom of your page. Turn back a leaf 
and put the twelve dollars beside ^Checks 
Drawn/ and subtract that amount from the 
three hundred dollars which is up here beside 
‘Deposits^, and you have two hundred and 
eighty-eight dollars. That’s all that you have 
on deposit now, and you must carry it forward 
to show at the top of the page for your new de- 
posit account.” 

can do that finely,” Bobby declared. 

You can if ^Responsibility’ keeps at your el- 
bow. A lot of people have all kinds of trouble 
with their bank accounts — when they balance 
with the bank at the end of the month they have 
too much, or too little, and then there’s bother 
in looking it up.” 

The next day Mr. Hawley came on Bobby 
as he was poring over his check-book. The boy 
spoke. 

‘Ht’ll take a lot of money to send these 


DISPOSING OP THE MONEY 


75 


checks through the mail. I guess ITl carry 
them around.’’ 

‘^Why, Bobby,” expostulated his mother, 
‘‘the people live all over town.” 

“He is not obliged to carry them,” Mr. Haw- 
ley put in. Something in the situation inter- 
ested him, for he sat down and silently watched 
the boy, and noted the quick movement to arise 
and the queer smile that came as the decision 
was made. 

“I guess I’ll carry the checks. I guess my 
time isn’t worth the dollar and a half that the 
stamps would cost.” 

“And you have not considered the envelopes 
you would have to buy,” the father said, as with 
the smile broadening he went outdoors. 

The next day Bobby trudged the town over, 
and at night the boy’s disposal of the money 
was the talk in many of the homes in Thorn- 
dike. 

“He’s John Hawley’s son,” was the com- 
ment. “John’s bringing him up in the road 
he’s traveled himself all his life — and a man 
could not go straighter.” 

After the boy was asleep Mr. Hawley watched 


76 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

the sweet, loving face of his wife as she bent 
over her sewing. Finally she said : 

afraid that we should not have let 
Bobby carry the checks around. He was very 
tired to-night.’’ 

Her husband leaned forward and ran his fin- 
gers over her hair, as he said : 

‘H think that if I had had a mother who had 
been so careful of me as Bobby’s mother is of 
him I never would have learned to take care of 
myself. Bobby traveled this afternoon because 
he wanted to save money. I have never before 
seen that trait in him, though I have looked for 
it long and anxiously.” 

‘^Why, John,” she said, ‘^you are not disap- 
pointed in Bobby, are you?” 

‘^No, rather I flatter myself that we have an 
unusually good boy. I’m very proud of him. ’ ’ 

The trace of anxiety had left her face. 

‘H’m so glad,” softly; ‘H know that you do 
not believe in praising him — ” 

‘‘Because praise never made a man of any 
one,” he interrupted. “When you study him, 
where is there much that calls for praise? He 
is obedient and truthful. The praise for that 
is due to you.” 


DISPOSING OF THE MONEY 


77 


such a dear boy/’ her flush showing 
how much her husband’s praise delighted her, 
‘ ^ and he is smart, too. See how well he did with 
the lilies, and now see how well he has done in 
this affair of the train.” 

^^I’m afraid I can not agree with you as to 
there being any especial smartness shown in 
this last matter. I am unable to make up my 
mind as to what induced him to take hold of 
such a large proposition. I am glad that he 
did it, and am inclined to believe that it was a 
quick decision which shows a sign of business 
genius. As to the lilies, we got some to please 
you and you sold them. Your sale brought 
about quite a business. The thing that has 
pleased me more than anything else is this mat- 
ter of saving two dollars by a little work on his 
part. I never saw an indication of thrift in 
him, before. He has been a very lucky boy- 
now we want to try to make him a smart boy.” 


CHAPTEE VII 


Preparing for the summer’s work. Suggested 

COMPETITION. The picnic, a diplomat for a 

MOTHER. Building business principles. 

If Bobby Hawley was not popular with the 
boys of Thorndike it was because he was held 
up as an example to be copied. Mr. Hawley 
was much concerned over the fact that his son 
had no boyhood chums. He was talking with 
Mr. Bradbury one day about the matter. 

know that Bobby likes to work with his 
tools, but I have noticed that if a boy does ever 
come around, he’s willing enough to play.” 

^‘He stands in a peculiar place with regard 
to other boys,” the grocer said. ‘‘You have 
taught him how to use boxing gloves, and I hear 
that there aren’t many boys half again as old, 
that care to tackle him. Of course he’s been 
held up as an example, and you know how that 
is, yourself.” 

“It has made him coast and skate alone a 
good part of the winter,” Mr. Hawley re- 
turned. ‘ ‘ I have been thinking that although he 
78 


PREPARING FOR THE SUMMER’S WORK 79 


has done more than other boys of his age, in 
one way, he has lost a lot of the pleasure that 
comes with childhood, the remembrance of 
which carries through life.’’ 

Still Bobby had not missed much of a boy’s 
pleasures. He had a real companion in his 
father and a loving sympathizer in his mother. 
He had played no pranks at the expense of his 
neighbors — a feature which is often considered 
indispensable to boy nature — but observation 
had taught him more than mischievousness ever 
could, and he saw clearer and quicker than most 
of his mates. He could bowl, or pitch a ball, 
or run a base, and when he was finished with 
such exercise he was ready to do a little work 
with his head, and his tools. 

The first of March found him busy overhaul- 
ing the raft under his father’s direction. False 
prows were adjusted and fitted with the high 
boxes, for lily storage. The entire deck was 
left unobstructed. 

^^She would carry twelve people without be- 
ing crowded, ’ ’ the boy exclaimed, in delight. 

Even the logs which furnished the foundation 
had been tapered at their ends in the effort to 
reduce resistance. Two coats of paint gave the 


80 


MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


craft a natty appearance. A mast and a bow- 
sprit were hewn from straight pines, bnt they 
had to cure in the sun, laid across two horses 
made of wood, and turned every day to pre- 
vent their warping. 

It was the middle of April before the sails 
were finished. The ice had all gone from the 
lake and the launching would not be long de- 
ferred. 

‘‘You must not expect to have the entire 
business this year,’^ his father told him. “I 
shall be surprised if there are not other rafts 
on the lake. It is known that you made money 
on the lilies and that’s the cause of competition- 
profits. You may have to reduce the price of 
your goods. ’ ’ 

“But he began the business,” Mrs. Hawley 
remonstrated. 

“A long time ago some one began to make 
sewing-machines. It took an entirely new prin- 
ciple to perfect one, but others improved that 
principle and made machines, too. Even a 
United States patent doesn’t always protect the 
discoverer of a thing, and because Bobby 
thought out something he can’t always own it. 
The lilies are free. There will be competition, 


PREPARING FOR THE SUMMER’S WORK 81 

and he will have to learn how to handle it. Of 
course he will not be driven out of the business 
if some one else sells them. One-half of last 
year’s profits ought to satisfy him.” 

Bobby showed that he was disturbed by the 
possible interference. He was thoughtful all 
the evening. 

^Ht will be the best thing that can happen if 
some hustler sets up against him, ’ ’ Mr. Hawley 
said to his wife, after the boy had gone to bed. 
^^He has never been crossed in his life, and he 
is getting to take success as something due him. 
Competition will develop him. He has advan- 
tages over any one who could open up the busi- 
ness. He has the privilege of getting orders 
at the hotels. It isn’t likely that the managers 
will allow two boys to overrun the places.” 

hope he won’t get discouraged,” the trou- 
bled mother remarked. 

^‘He would not be much of a boy if he did,” 
the father declared, quickly. 

During the next week the boy was so occupied 
with his raft that he seemed to give no thought 
to competition. The craft handled beautifully, 
and the entire lake was sailed, Mrs. Hawley 
often being a passenger. There was no great 


82 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


speed attained but tbe sharp prow cut the water 
as a regular boat would have done. 

At school, the teacher showed’ such interest 
in the craft, that the boy invited her for a sail, 
and Mrs. Hawley made one of the party on the 
occasion. The ladies each had a chair and en- 
joyed the trip; in fact, the teacher’s account 
was so entertaining that Bobby invited the two 
higher classes to have a picnic on his father’s 
lawn, when he would give them all a sail. Mrs. 
Hawley entered into the plan when she was told 
of it, and promised to furnish refreshments. 
When the mothers of the children learned that 
there was to be sailing at the picnic they thought 
they should also go, to watch against accident. 

‘‘May-day” was the time set for the outing, 
and when it arrived, Mrs. Hawley was well pre- 
pared for the large number of guests that came. 
Mr. Hawley and Bobby were on the raft all the 
afternoon sailing the children, and even the 
parents took a first trip on the lake when they 
saw how safe the raft was. Mrs. Hawley enter- 
tained on shore, and when all had departed for 
their homes it was decided that the atfair had 
been a grand success. 

That evening the mother said that she had 



“ May-day ” was the time set for the outing. — Page 82 



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PREPARING FOR THE SUMMER’S WORK 83 

told all of her guests of Bobby’s intention to 
supply the hotels with lilies. Mr. Hawley 
laughed, as he suggested: 

‘‘You sort of gave notice that interference 
would not be tolerated?” 

His wife flushed, and answered : 

“Well, I thought that if they knew, they 
would not let their boys sell, too. ’ ’ 

“I guess, to he safe, we should have the 
whole school over, ’ ’ with a heartier laugh. 

“Oh, I think that the people here to-day will 
spread the news,” and the mother’s flush grew 
deeper. 

“Bobby ought to succeed,” declared Mr. 
Hawley. ‘ ‘ He has a diplomat for a mother. ’ ’ 

“I shall do everything I can to keep any one 
else from interfering with him,” Mrs. Hawley 
replied. “I do not know much about business 
but I do know what is fair, and as Bobby started 
the lily-selling I think it is only fair if he keeps 
it.” 

Mother and son had many important confer- 
ences in the next week. One night at supper 
the boy told his father ; 

“I’m going to pick only the largest and clean- 
est lilies this year. I’ve been thinking that if 


84 


MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


some one else did try the business I might keep 
my trade by supplying the best. ’ ’ 

^ ‘ That ^s first-class reasoning, ’ ’ Mr. Hawley 
acknowledged. He was evidently pleased with 
the mental progress displayed. 

Perhaps I can hold my price up,’’ the boy 
continued. 

‘^You can try to,” his father agreed. 

‘H’ll be careful not to promise delivery unless 
I’m sure I will be able to.” 

‘‘You’re on the right track. Furnish the best 
and just when you agree and it must he a strong 
opposition that gets your trade away. If the 
opposition gives just as good service at a lower 
figure, you will have to come down in your price. 
Your first move in the game is to work on the 
line you have declared; then you can watch re- 
sults. ’ ’ 

Beautiful May passed quickly, and prepara- 
tions for receiving the summer guests were ap- 
parent at the three hotels. Bobby was down- 
town much of the time. The day before the 
opening of the resorts Bobby informed his par- 
ents : 

“I bought three pretty vases at Mr. Brad- 
bury’s and to-morrow each hotel is to have one 


PREPAEING FOR THE SUMMER’S WORK 85 


in the office filled with the very best lilies I can 
find. When I told the managers of my plan to 
present the lilies, each one thanked me. I am 
sojid now, I gness. I don’t think any one else 
will be allowed inside the houses.” 

At the time Mr. Hawley did nothing more 
than to nod his pleased interest, but later he 
told his wife : 

‘^That was a very good play for Bobby. I 
must acknowledge that the boy has shown some 
fine business planning for a youngster, these 
last few weeks.” 

Mrs. Hawley’s eyes glowed with delight. 

‘H may tell him you think so, mayn’t I?” she 
pleaded. ^‘He thinks so much of what you 
say;” then as he smiled up at her, know 
that he is going to do splendidly, this summer.” 


CHAPTEE VIII 


Competition. Bobby’s anger and his father’s cen- 
sure. In disgrace. Success in finding a new 

FIELD FOR BUSINESS. ThE DELIGHTED MOTHER AND 

THE PACIFIED FATHER, ANOTHER REBUFF. 

Foe three days the aroma of the lilies per- 
vaded the hotel offices. The gift of them was a 
profitable advertisement for Bobby. The man- 
agers renewed the supply at market price, and 
the orders from the guests began heavier than 
they were in the busiest weeks of the previous 
year. 

Bobby was jubilant over his assured success. 

^^IVe been thinking that I could work the ex- 
presses at noon,’’ he told his father and mother, 
the evening of the third day of rushing busi- 
ness. ‘‘They stand here every day from five to 
ten minutes. I’m going to try it to-morrow. 
I’m sure that Mr. Marsh will let me.” 

The hoy was at the station when the down 
express arrived on the following day, and had 
“worked” it, before the up train arrived. 

86 


COMPETITION 


87 


When he was through the second train he 
counted his receipts and found that he had three 
dollars. 

The trains alone yielded large daily pay for 
a boy, even if that boy conducted a business of 
his own. For the next two weeks, three trips 
a day was made to the lily beds to supply the 
demand and even then Mrs. Hawley had diffi> 
culty in keeping a display on her dining-table. 
Mr. Hawley, even, had been brought to think 
that the last-year business would appear pretty 
small when compared with that of this year, 
when something happened that was unexpected, 
because its possibility had been entirely forgot- 
ten. 

One afternoon as Mrs. Hawley was standing 
at the window waiting for her son, she sud- 
denly turned to her husband, her voice betray- 
ing anxiety. 

‘‘John, I’m sure that something has hap- 
pened. Bobby looks awfully downcast. I 
know that he has been disappointed. You’ll be 
real kind to him, won’t you?” 

She was so sorry for her boy, even though 
she did not know his trouble, that she put her 
hand on her husband’s, pleadingly. Mr. Haw- 


88 


MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


ley covered the hand and put his other arm 
about her as he answered : 

‘‘ITl be kind to him. You know there are 
different degrees of kindness. Sometimes it is 
sympathy a boy needs, but a timely correction 
is as kind as sympathy.’’ 

Bobby entered the house at this minute. 
Throwing aside his cap the boy took his place 
at the prepared table. Mr. Hawley said: 

^‘You’ve forgotten to wash your face, Bobby. 
You must not let money-making interfere with 
your manners. ’ ’ 

The boy went to the sink and washed himself, 
an unusual impatience exhibiting itself in his 
every movement. As he again took his seat 
he said in a surly tone which sounded out of 
place in him : 

guess money-making won’t interfere with 
anything, with me, any more. The pond-lily 
business is done for.” 

Mr. Hawley began to serve. He asked no 
questions. His wife, unable to wait for a 
proper explanation, said: 

‘^Why, what do you mean, Bobby?” 

^H’ve got only three orders for to-morrow, 
one from each hotel. There’s another boy sell- 


COMPETITION 


89 


ing and his price is three cents each. The hotel 
folks are buying of him, but they said they 
would keep on with me if I would come down 
in my price — hut I wonT. I just wonT.’’ 

The boy’s clenched fist came down on the 
table with such a blow that his mother started 
in fright at the exhibition of rage. Mr. Haw- 
ley’s voice was even as he asked: 

‘‘Who is selling?” 

“Joe Dayton.” 

Neither parent had ever dreamed of the la- 
tent anger in their boy that was displayed in the 
mention of that name. Mrs. Hawley said, 
faintly, because of her great astonishment: 

“But Joe Dayton is a poor, lame boy — ” 

“I’ll thrash him, lame or not, the next time 
I see him,” almost shouted the boy. “He’s a 
cur to cut in on me ! ” 

“Is he selling lilies that are as good as 
yours?” Mr. Hawley’s question came in such 
a cool tone that Bobby glanced sideways at him. 
Angry though he was, he had not expected im- 
mediate sympathy from his father. He an- 
swered, with his show of temper not abated : 

“His lilies are small and speckled. He gets 
them at Two-Mile Pond, and there never were 


90 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


any good lilies there* He's selling them, 
though — ” 

^^How could that boy ever get out to Two- 
Mile PondT’ Mrs. Hawley asked. ^Ht’s an 
awful walk.’’ 

‘‘But he got there,” Mr. Hawley broke in, 
and his voice caused his wife to raise her eyes 
appealingly. “He walked out and he walked 
back. Pour miles for a strong person, but eight 
for a cripple, such as that boy is. He did it, 
though, to help his mother, who has not been 
able to sew lately because she is sick. Our boy 
has an inclination to thrash the cripple. I am 
not at all proud of our boy’s conduct, and the 
ugliness he has displayed in this first instance 
of being crossed. I am glad that he has re- 
ceived no orders for to-morrow.” 

“But, John,” pleaded the mother, “he 
doesn’t mean to act this way. He feels so 
badly. He has been so disappointed, for he 
thought he would not be interfered with — ” 

“By what right did he feel so sure?” Mr. 
Hawley’s voice was so hard that Bobby stole 
another look at him. It was not an angry look 
but a decidedly crestfallen look. “What has 
he done to warrant such a thought? I built 


COMPETITION 


91 


Mm a raft, and you started him into getting 
money out of selling pond lilies. He used my 
horse to carry the lilies. Now he threatens to 
.thrash a cripple who walks four miles and offers 
a few poor things for sale to help his mother. 
Here are two cases that are found too fre- 
quently in this world. One rides to prosperity, 
the other finds it after a search which would 
have discouraged the other in a day. I’ll wager 
that Joe Dayton will he a man that his mother 
will he proud of, some day — as for saying more. 
I’ll wait the decision. The most unjust and 
contemptible way to meet competition is to 
crush it by main strength. ’ ’ 

Mr. Hawley left the table and the house. 

^‘My, but he was mad,” Bobby said. His 
anger had cooled, completely. If he had had 
his present view of the matter before reaching 
home he would not have brought such punish-, 
ment on himself. He was very much ashamed 
of his outbreak. 

‘‘Not angry, dear,” Ms mother answered, 
soothingly; “I’m afraid he was disappointed to 
see you act as you did. He is the best friend 
that you will ever have, and his judgment is 
always good. What he says, he means for the 


92 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


best and I think that yon see now that what yon 
said and the way yon said it conld not help 
displeasing him. Yon know that yon wonld 
not whip that poor Joe Dayton. They have had 
a very hard time to get along. Now don’t say 
anything more abont the bnsiness when Papa 
is aronnd. I think that yon will go to work 
and think ont some way to keep right on, and 
also to get yonr father’s confidence, again.” 

There followed many nnhappy days for 
Bobby. He forced himself to call at the hotels, 
thongh the orders he got were few. He still 
had the train bnsiness, bnt enongh lilies for that 
conld be gathered in an honr. The boy knew 
that he mnst come ont of his difficnlty withont 
any assistance from his father, and he stopped 
brooding and songht for ways to retrieve him- 
self. He discovered that his competitor did 
not sell many lilies, bnt in making a lower price 
he had stopped trade at a higher. One after- 
noon he came to his mother and showed her a 
long paper box. He had been silent and 
thonghtfnl for many days, before. 

want yon to go to Marshfield with me to- 
morrow,” he told her. ‘H have a plan for box- 
ing the lilies and selling them over there.” 


COMPETITION 


93 


be glad to go/^ she answered. Let’s 
not say anything about it before Papa. We’ll 
let him see what you can do without help. ’ ’ 
There were eight large hotels at Marshfield 
and in its vicinity, and she supposed that he 
was going to see them all. It was fourteen 
miles from Thorndike by the wagon road and 
she knew that Dobbin could not make the trip 
every day, so, as they were riding along on 
that warm July morning, she said : 

‘Wou know that Dobbin could not come over 
here often. He is too old for such hard work.” 

^H’ve thought about that,” Bobby replied. 
‘‘You know I have a pass over the railroad, 
and if I can get a start I’ll take orders for lilies 
to be delivered the next day. ’ ’ 

All the wavering faith of the mother became 
strongly seated when she knew how carefully 
the boy had planned. 

“We’re going to have a great day,” he told 
her. “I will call at the ‘Winnesemit’ and if I 
do anything there we will put Dobbin up, have 
dinner, and I will hire another horse to take 
us to the other places. I shall try to sell from 
my sample in the box. How is this for a hand- 
some combination?” 


94 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

He opened his package and showed a cluster 
of beautiful buds neatly enclosed in oiled paper. 

‘‘Aren’t they lovely!” she exclaimed. “I 
know you’ll sell some.” 

“I had the boxes made and they cost five cents 
each, but I can get them cheaper if I order a 
large lot.” 

She sat in the carriage while he went into the 
Winnesemit House. She wished for his success 
with all her heart. He was gone such a long 
time that she was sure he had not failed utterly, 
and her hope strengthened. When at last he 
came out she could not restrain herself, but 
asked : 

“Would they buy!” 

“I’ve sold twenty-three dozen,” he exclaimed. 
“The boxes do half the selling. We’ll stop 
here for dinner and give Dobbin the afternoon 
to rest in. ’ ’ 

Such an afternoon as Mrs. Hawley had. A 
great portion of her pleasure consisted in study- 
ing her boy among scenes which were new to 
her. He was self-contained either in the large 
dining-room of the Winnesemit or in selling a 
dozen lilies to a bantering beauty who was up 
from the city for the summer. She knew that 


COMPETITION 


95 


his experience in the lily business had done 
much for him, even if he should stop it now. 

The day’s work counted up thirty-six dollars. 

‘^IVe missed the noon expresses,” the boy 
said, as they were driving home, ^^but I can ar- 
range it all right to-morrow to cover the down 
train and work the ^up’ train while I am going 
to Marshfield. I have arranged to have neat 
cards painted and the managers will allow me 
to put them up in the hotel offices. There are 
no lilies growing around here, so I guess I shall 
be able to get along without the Thorndike 
houses.” 

That evening Mr. Hawley heard his wife tell 
the story of the day. 

‘Ht’s a great improvement on his first 
scheme, which was to whip a lame boy,” was 
the father’s comment. 

‘‘And he did it all himself,” added Mrs. Haw- 
ley, unable to allow the boy to lose one particle 
of the credit. 

Bobby explained the fancy boxes, and his 
father listened attentively. The sample box 
had been brought back. 

“I chose the pale blue boxes and the cream 
tissue paper because both colors are in the lilies. 


96 


MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


I thought out the ventilation, and four holes 
are in each box. The dozen-size cost five cents, 
the two-dozen, eight cents, and I can get five- 
and ten-dozen sizes. By the thousand, I can 
get them all almost a third less. ’ ’ 

‘‘Who told you about using boxes T’ Mr. 
Hawley enquired. 

“No one. I knew that you wouldnT help, 
and I had to find some way to assist in the sell- 
ing. I expect that when I get the boxes on 
the trains I shall hear from the Thorndike ho- 
tels. I donT have to have business from them, 
and if they want my lilies they will come for 
them. I will not deliver there.’’ 

“Well,” Mr. Hawley explained, “your 
mother thought that I was harsh with you, but 
I think she will acknowledge now that I was 
right. Instead of sulking and brooding, as you 
did at first, you have gone to work hard, and 
made a splendid showing. Take this as a les- 
son and don’t lie down on first sight of a set- 
back. There’s always a way out. If you don’t 
find it you’ll just stand in with the thousands 
of failures who have given up before they have 
really tried. I don’t know why you should not 
go to the Thorndike hotels with your boxes. If 


COMPETITION 


97 


a lady wanted the lilies before, she surely would 
want them put up in this way.^’ 

^^Mr. Brewster told me not to come there 
again. ’ ^ 

Bobby flushed as he acknowledged it. 

‘‘Told you not to come to the Thorndike 
again Mrs. Hawley repeated, her own face 
warm from indignation. “John, youTl see Mr. 
Hartwell about this, wont you? Mr. Brewster 
is only the manager — ’’ 

The lady stopped, confused, and ashamed of 
her excitement. She saw that her husband had 
the peculiar expression about his mouth — as if 
he was amused. ' 

“You were minding your business ?^^ he 
asked Bobby. 

“Yes. I just went in and was starting out 
toward the piazza when Mr. Brewster called me 
and said he had decided to let no one sell lilies 
in the house.’’ 

“Did he appear cross?” 

“No, but three people heard him, and I felt 
pretty well cut up about it. ’ ’ 

“Of course you did, poor dear,” the mother 
interposed. 

“Well,” said Mr. Hawley, carefully consider- 


98 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

mg the matter, and speaking slowly. ‘‘Brew- 
ster had no right to stop you unless Hartwell 
ordered him to. I don’t believe that Hartwell 
did that, because he was talking to me about you 
only a short time ago and what he said would 
lead me to believe he would not order you out 
of the hotel — ” 

“You never told me that, John!” Mrs. 
Hawley’s face showed she expected interesting 
news. “What did he say about Bobby?” 

“I don’t think it best to tell.” The amused 
look was still about the father’s lips. 

“But, John, I want to know so much. Of 
course I do. Any mother would. ’ ’ 

“Well,” slowly, “he said that Bobby was 
such a steady, manly-appearing chap that he 
didn’t wonder his mother was proud of him.” 

“Why, how did he know?” Mrs. Hawley’s 
face expressed surprised concern. 

“I imagine he’s seen you together some- 
where, ’ ’ replied Mr. Hawley, with a loud laugh. 

For an instant, the concern on her face 
reached displeasure; then she caught Bobby’s 
eye and both joined the father in his laugh. 

“I guess I am a little foolish where Bobby is 
concerned, ’ ’ was the way she dismissed the inci- 


COMPETITION 


99 


dent. The remembrance of the slight to her 
son returned, however, and she continued, 
^‘YouTl speak to Mr. Hartwell, wonT youT’ 
hardly think so,’’ Mr. Hawley returned; 
“I don’t think that a position brought hack 
through tattling is a very dignified one. Let 
Bobby go about the business he has and give 
the hotels here the cold shoulder. I shouldn’t 
wonder if Brewster let him come in later, hut 
I wouldn’t ask to go there. Something will 
turn up, now that he’s independent of the ho- 
tels.” 

Something did turn up, and within a very 
short time. In the first place the box delivery 
in Marshfield was a stupendous success. The 
Marshfield News had an account of it, and 
referred to the Belief Expedition which the en- 
terprising boy merchant had started, and car- 
ried through, the previous winter. The article 
in the Marshfield paper had been read by Mr. 
Hartwell, a vice-president of the C. & A. road, 
who was bringing his family to the Thorndike 
for the summer. 


CHAPTER IX 


Disciplining Mr. Brewster. No man is above being 

CORRECTED. A NATURALLY GREAT MAN DOES NOT LAY 

HIMSELF LIABLE TO CORRECTION. 

It was Saturday afternoon when Mr. Hart- 
welPs family arrived. The next day he showed 
the account in the Marshfield paper to Mr. 
Brewster. 

^‘How is it that the boy doesnT come here 
with his lilies he asked. ‘^He came all last 
season. ’ ^ 

‘‘So few people patronized him that I did not 
encourage his coming/’ was the soft reply. 
“Another boy came, and they were getting too 
numerous. It disturbed the guests.” 

“He doesn’t appear to be disturbing the 
guests at Marshfield,” was the retort. “You 
should give that boy the preference, if you 
allow any one to sell. The road is still under 
obligation to him for his Relief Expedition. 
Send him a note and teU him that I want some 
of his lilies.” 

A half-dozen men who were present when 
100 


DISCIPLINING MR. BREWSTER 101 

Bobby was given bis summary dismissal, saw 
something amusing in the suddenly developed 
situation. Mr. Brewster was not popular with 
many of his gentlemen guests. He sometimes 
appeared to resent a call on his time; but he 
never was too busy to talk commonplaces with 
the ladies. He was most attentive to Mr. 
Hartwell, however, and now said : 

‘H will get you the lilies, sir, this afternoon.’’ 

‘Ht’s a case of Brewster eating crow,” one 
of the on-lookers remarked to a companion. 
^H’ll make it a point to be around when that 
feast comes otf.” 

It was a week before Mr. Hartwell got his 
lilies. The box trade in Marshfield had de- 
veloped new conditions. Bobby did not go up 
every day. He was arranging so that he could 
take orders on Saturday to be delivered any 
day designated the following week. This came 
about through the widely spread territory which 
was now contributing to his business. People 
out riding from points as far as twenty miles 
from Marshfield had seen the cards in the ho- 
tels, and were placing liberal orders to be de- 
livered on a specified day at some hotel where 
they could call for them. On Saturday after- 


102 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

noon when Bobby came down on the local, his 
mother was at the depot for him. 

Guess what my orders amount to for next 
week,’^ he said, as he got into the buggy. 

know they’re considerable by the satis- 
fied look you wear,” she returned. 

‘ ^ Sixty-three dollars. ’ ’ 

^^What is that! Sixty-three dollars!” in a 
gasp of wonder. ‘‘Isn’t it astonishing? You 
had better let poor Joe have all of Thorndike.” 

“No! I was driven out and I’m going to 
get the whole thing back if I can — then per- 
haps I’ll step out of my own will.” 

Even Dobbin seemed to feel the exhilaration 
that thrilled the pair he drew. He frisked up 
the street, and Bobby had a tussle to hold him, 
when, in front of the Thorndike, Mr. Brewster 
waved for the team to stop. 

“I would not pull up,” the mother advised. 
“He may say something that will spoil your 
day.” 

“Yes, I’ll stop. Father would say that it 
might have been an opportunity for me.” 

“Ah, Bobby,” came in the hotel manager’s 
suave tone, “Mr. Hartwell asked me to speak 
for some of your lilies for him.” 


DISCIPLINING MR. BREWSTER 103 

am sorry to disappoint Mr. Hartwell, but 
I haven’t any to sell,” was the boy’s answer. 

‘^You’re in the business, aren’t you?” The 
tone was less suave. Mr. Brewster doubted 
the statement and believed that the rebuff of a 
few weeks before was responsible for the boy’s 
attitude. 

‘H’m in the business, but every lily I can 
get for next week is sold.” 

think it will be for your interest to supply 
at least two dozen to Mr. Hartwell.” 

The tone was hard enough now. Mr. Brew- 
ster had seen that the men on the piazza were 
interested in the conversation. Bobby did not 
know of his unenviable position, and persisted: 

shall not be able to supply any more than 
I have orders for.” 

He took up the reins and was about to drive 
away, when the manager made a last attempt. 

have given you a chance to sell in this 
hotel again. If you do not fill this order you 
will be shut out indefinitely.” 

thank you for putting me out of the hotel, 
Mr. Brewster,” the boy returned. have 
twice the business I had before, and do not care 
for the Thorndike orders.” 


104 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


This time he started, but had not proceeded 
ten feet before an automobile dashed in front of 
him. In the car were Mr. Hartwell, his wife 
and two daughters. 

/‘Hello, boy,’’ called the vice-president of the 
road. “I hear that you have gone into the 
export business. It isn’t good policy to desert 
old customers for new. You want to keep all 
lines taut. Mr. Brewster has been looking for 
you for days to order some lilies for me.” 

Mr. Brewster had hurried to the auto, and 
now interposed, while the men on the piazza 
craned their necks to hear. 

“He tells me that he has so many orders 
that he cannot supply you. ’ ’ 

“Too bad,” was the response. “My wife 
wanted them for Monday evening. She is to 
have guests, and the lilies that are coming to 
the hotel will not do. I hope you can find time 
to get her two or three dozen, at least. ’ ’ 

“She shall have them if I can possibly get 
them,” the boy returned, the decision having 
been brought by a sudden thought. “I guess 
you can figure on getting them. ’ ’ 

The astonished Mr. Brewster stepped aside 
and the boy drove away. 


DISCIPLINING MR. BREWSTER 105 

‘‘I do not know, Bobby,’’ mused bis mother. 
‘‘It seems to me that I would have disciplined 
that manager a little — ” 

“Just you wait till I think a little longer,” 
Bobby said, laughing. “Perhaps I’ll discipline 
him after all. You know, he said that I could 
not sell in the Thorndike.” 

In the evening his parents got the thought 
which had influenced the boy in his Hartwell 
decision. 

“I’m going to send five dozen to Mrs. Hart- 
well by prepaid express and with my compli- 
ments. I’ll put up the handsomest package 
that ever went into that hotel. Her guests will 
see it opened and I shouldn’t wonder if I could 
do business in the hotel without Mr. Brewster’s 
permission.” 

Mr. Hawley joined in the general laugh. 

“Here is a lesson for you to profit by,” he 
said. “No matter how forbidding a man may 
appear, and how much annoyance his bearing 
causes you, remember that somewhere there is 
some other man who can make him feel as un- 
comfortable as he is making you — ” 

“Why, Papa, is that just so?” Mrs. Hawley 
interrupted. “No one could make the Presi- 


106 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


dent of the United States uncomfortable, and 
on the line you are reasoning it would appear 
as if he could be made uncomfortable^ ’ 

still hold to my point,’’ her husband an- 
swered. ‘^Of course the President would not 
begin the action and so merit the correction — 
but a little man with half a dozen children and 
a squalid home could make the President wince 
if he were able to draw a caricature which 
would awaken the public ridicule or distrust. 
No man is too great to be corrected. As for 
Brewster, a man who so far forgets himself 
as to give such an unnecessary call-down will 
show, after a time, how little he is. Always 
keep at work in a dignified way. Such a man 
as Brewster has shown himself to be, isn’t 
worth one minute ’s unhappiness on your part. ’ ’ 

Bobby sent the lilies to the Thorndike that 
Monday evening as he had planned. In the 
box was a card, which read: ‘‘Mrs. James 
Hartwell and daughters. Compliments of 
Robert Hawley. ’ ’ 

A half-dozen men who were at the opening 
of the box commented later : 

“Mr. Brewster is only beginning his feast of 


crow. 


CHAPTEE X 


Bobby retrieves himself. ‘‘Everybody is sorry 

FOR JoE.’^ “I’m all done. I’m not trying to 

SELL ANY MORE.” BoBBY’s AWAKENING. BOBBY 

AND Joe. 

In a week Bobby bad no competition in the 
lily business at the three hotels in Thorndike. 
There was no demand for small, specked buds 
when the ladies had seen the inside of one of 
the neat, pale-blue boxes. 

The train business had been completely cut 
out during these busy days, but when he had 
rearranged his work he decided that he could 
handle that part also. 

The first day that he revisited the depot he 
found that his competitor had only changed his 
field of operation. For an instant he was 
angry with Mr. Marsh for allowing another the 
right he had enjoyed, but the anger was quickly 
stifled. He would stop this attempt as he had 
the other. 

He jumped aboard the down train before it 
had come to a stop and was half-way through 
107 


108 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


it before the lame boy was aboard. The same 
tactics were employed on the ^‘np’’ express. 

This warfare continued several days; then 
he had the trains to himself. On that day he 
jumped from the down express, and every box 
he had brought was sold. A surge of exulta- 
tion passed through him as he thought that he 
had removed all the opposition in a manly way. 
For a minute he stood watching the departing 
train, then turned to see Mr. Marsh standing 
near him. Overcoming his inclination to go 
away without accosting the man whom he con- 
sidered had used him unfairly, he said : 

‘MVe sold out, to-day.’’ 

‘‘Yes, and you’ve won out,” was the reply. 
“You’ve shown up big, Bobby, in this whole 
matter. Everybody’s glad you’ve won out — 
but everybody’s sorry for Joe. His mother is 
very sick and in need.” 

It was the way it was said that routed the 
exultation in the boy’s heart. He had never 
given one thought to Joe, beyond the fact that 
the lame boy was interfering. Mr. Marsh 
went on: 

“I guess Joe didn’t make more than half a 
dollar a day, but that’s considerable where 


BOBBY RETRIEVES HIMSELF 


109 


there’s nothing else coming in. I’m glad yon 
beat him ont fair, because I wouldn’t want to 
take any advantage of a boy like him.” 

Mr. Marsh went off down the platform. 
Bobby stood still, shocked and confused, trying 
to comprehend something which had never come 
into his mind before. When he at last started 
toward Mr. Bradbury’s store his step was 
heavy. Mr. Bradbury was in his office and 
looked up as the boy entered — and took another 
look, before saying: 

Seems to me you’re not carrying around 
a face that ought to belong to a boy who’s 
fought a big fight, and won. Of course I know 
it,” in response to the quick upward look. 

There isn’t a man that got any part of the 
Relief Expedition money that has not been 
watching you ever since Joe Dayton cut in on 
you. We’ve all made suggestions to your 
father as to what you should do, but he wouldn’t 
let any one interfere. He said that you must 
fight it out fair, or lie down whipped. The best 
luck that will ever come into your life, Bobby, 
came when you were born John Hawley’s son. 
You’ve worked out your problem^ in just as 
honorable a way as he would have done it. ’ ’ 


110 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


For the first time in his life praise did not 
lift the boy’s heart. There was before him 
that side which showed a boy and his mother 
dependent on the little money which he had 
stopped coming. He was aroused from his 
thoughts for a second, for Mr. Bradbury spoke 
again. 

‘‘So Brewster put you out of the hotel?” 

“I didn’t tell that to any one,” the boy re- 
turned, quickly. 

“The guests told it. Hartwell has found out 
at last what all of us here have known a long 
time. Brewster’s too top-lofty for a place the 
size of Thorndike. I guess what he did toward 
downing you won’t help him any. Hartwell 
hasn’t any use for a man that will crowd 
another that’s down. Everybody is standing 
up for you in this fight with Joe because you’ve 
done it so honorably. Some boys would have 
thrashed Joe Dayton out of business — he’s a 
poor, weak fellow — but you worked with your 
head and not with your fists. You’ve shown 
up well.” 

Every word wrung the boy’s heart. He 
knew that he had not “shown up well.” He 
wanted to be out of doors, but Mr. Bradbury 


BOBBY KETRIEVES HIMSELF 


111 


had taken a seat on a box and went on — his 
eyes on his hard, knotted hands, which clutched 
together and seemed to hold the boy in spite of 
himself. 

^‘It’s a big success for you — but everybody's 
sorry for Joe. I knew his mother when she ’ 
wasn’t older than you are — and before that, too. 
When she married Tom Dayton, my Dick 
wanted to marry her; then he went out west 
and hasn’t ever been hack since. A year after 
she married, her husband was brought home 
feet first, just at supper time. He had bought 
a horse that day and the vicious critter carried 
him over Turner’s River bridge. Before any 
one got to him he was dead. Joe was born 
three months after.” 

A great sob shook Bobby. Misery, such as 
he had never dreamed of, bore down on him. 
Mr. Bradbury’s hands tightened. He was not 
through yet. 

''We were all glad you beat out, but just think 
what that boy was doing to try to get his 
mother what she actually needed. He went to 
Two-Mile Pond three times a week. He walked 
four miles each trip, and every step was such 
agony that I pray God I may never know one- 


112 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


hundredth part of it. He was in here half an 
hour ago and he’s discouraged. He said he 
couldn’t sell his lilies because yours were so 
much better. I asked him how much he got 
out of a trip to Two-Mile Pond and he told 
me that he never got more than forty cents be- 
cause the lilies wilted. Forty cents for such 
bodily punishment as that! Just think of it! 
Just think of it!” 

Bobby could not stand any more. He rushed 
out of the store, his hands over his ears to shut 
out that wavering-voiced, ‘‘Just think of it.” 
For the first time in his life he did not want 
to meet his mother. He went down to the Lake 
road and started in the opposite direction from 
home, running along aimlessly carrying a 
burden of sutfocating despondency. He was 
out of the town; then he became conscious of 
something beside the weight he carried. Some- 
thing black had moved,, by the roadside. He 
stopped, confused, and turned full-face toward 
the place. A boy was arising from a seat on a 
rock. It was Joe Dayton. 

They stared at each other. The lame boy, 
with a timidity incited by the loneliness of the 
place and the flush on the face of the stronger 


BOBBY RETRIEVES HIMSELF 113 

boy, began, bis tone showing attempted concilia- 
tion : 

all done. I’m not trying to sell, any 

more.” 

Bobby did not know what to say. He came 
over to the rock and sat down. A flush came 
to the other face at this assurance that there 
was to be no quarrel. 

‘ ^ Of course my lilies would not sell when your 
blue boxes came out,” the lame boy said. He 
had waited for some opening on Bobby’s part 
but Bobby did not know how to frame speech 
on such a surprising occasion. Another pause 
and the lame boy said: 

knew that you would be mad if I sold, 
but I thought I might get money enough to have 
my leg fixed up so I would be of some help to 
my mother — then she got sick and I sold to 
get her medicine. 1 heard that when Mr. Marsh 
was going to drive me off the trains your father 
stopped him, and then I thought that you 
didn’t care, because I only earned a little. 
You beat me fairly. You got better lilies than 
I could. Any one could sell the lilies you got.” 

The right thought came to Bobby so suddenly 
that his heart thumped. 


114 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

“You think you could sell my lilies!’’ he 
asked with an eagerness which flushed his face. 

“I know I could.” 

“Will you!” 

The shadow that crossed the younger boy’s 
face changed from wonder at the new expres- 
sion on his questioner’s to anxiety. Bobby 
knew what it meant and shouted : 

“Don’t look so! I mean it! We’ll sell to- 
gether! You’ll work the Thorndike hotels, and 
we’ll handle the trains together. I’ll do the 
outside work. I’ve got to have you! Will you 
do it ! Will you do it ! ” 

Bobby’s tongue was rushing without control; 
then a wonderful thing happened. The lame 
boy cried — and Bobby, knowing that it was 
from joy, pulled the worried head over on to 
his shoulder and cried, too! Cried from very 
happiness, and peace of mind — and heart. 


CHAPTER XI 

Fixing UP THINGS. A happy father. Joe’s mother 

COMES TO THE HaWLEY FARM. BoBBY’S MOTHER’S 

HAPPY SERVICE. 

In that next half-hour Bobby got very close 
to his father ^s old friend, Responsibility.^^ 
An eager questioning, prompted by a desire to 
help, brought from the lame boy his whole un- 
fortunate story. A brave fight had been made 
until the mother’s last sickness — now there was 
not enough to eat in the home. 

^‘I’ll stay around till the afternoon local 
comes. I carried a salesman’s case this morn- 
ing and got a quarter, and Mr. Bradbury gave 
me twenty cents for some lilies. If I get ten 
cents this afternoon she will think I am selling 
lilies, still.” 

Bobby listened to the planning, in wonder 
that a boy’s speech could sound so old. 

‘‘The carrying the cases must be hard work 
for you,” he said, involuntarily looking at the 
almost useless leg. 


115 


116 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

‘‘I forget it when I see my mother smile/’ 
was the answer. 

‘‘Well, don’t bother any more about carrying 
cases, ’ ’ with a quick-drawn breath of sympathy. 
The boy had plans, but he needed advice as how 
to work them, “You come along with me and 
we’ll see if some way can’t be fixed that will 
give us both work on my lilies. ’ ’ 

The boy got to his feet, and Bobby saw that 
even that effort was painful. 

“You put your hand on my shoulder and 
don’t step so hard on your foot,” he directed. 

They came into town in this position. Mr. 
Marsh saw them cross the railroad track, and 
he hurried out to the end of the platform. 

“What’s all this!” he asked. There was a 
smile on his face as if something pleased him. 

“Joe and I are going to work the trains to- 
gether,” Bobby explained. He was flushed, for 
the weight on his shoulder had been consider- 
able. 

The station-rqaster looked Bobby all over. 
His hand fell on the lame boy’s head, and he 
said in a low tone of pleasure : 

“You’ll be a great team. The whole of 
Thorndike will sleep quieter to-night, on Joe’s 


FIXING UP THINGS 


117 


account. You’re showing up bigger and big- 
ger, Bobby.” 

Bobby was impatient to get to Mr. Bradbury. 
He bad plans, but be needed assistance in form- 
ulating them. When they went slowly up the 
grocery steps the grocer was returning to bis 
office, having just completed a sale. The noise 
they made when entering caused him to look 
about; then be came toward them, his lips 
parted and bis eyes carrying surprise. 

‘‘Well, say, Bobby! Well, say — what you 
been and done?” 

“I just want to speak to you a minute, that’s 
all.” His feverish excitement was well con- 
trolled, for a boy. “You sit on that keg, Joe, 
until I talk to Mr. Bradbury about it. Come 
along, Mr. Bradbury. ’ ’ 

The grocer followed into the office, and bis 
step was as quick as the boy’s. 

“How’ll we do it?” Bobby began in a loud 
whisper. “Shall we be partners, or how’ll it 
be ? We ’re going to work together so he ’ll make 
enough to help his mother with. Suppose I 
hire him? He’ll get his money every week and 
perhaps that’ll be better for him. He was only 
making a little and I stopped that. I didn’t 


118 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

know about it all — but I know now. How bad 
I better fix it up T ’ 

Mr. Bradbury stared as the questions came at 
him. 

‘‘Well, say, Bobby,” he finally returned, 
feebly, “you ought to talk to your father 
about this, you know. You’re showing up big- 
ger and bigger, but he’s the one that ought to 
advise you. I’m proud that you came to me! 
By gum, here’s John now. Talk about the — 
Hello, John! Come down here!” shouting 
through the window. 

Mr. Hawley came “down,” casting a glance 
at the lame boy as he passed — a very anxious, 
large-eyed lame boy. He found two excited 
individuals in the office, but the grocer was the 
best able to tell the story. 

“Joe’s left selling, John, and Bobby’s got 
the coast all clear. Joe’s needy. He’s been 
doing terrible hard work to help his sick 
mother. Bobby’s beat him fair and square and 
we’re all proud of him. Joe hasn’t any fault 
to find, for he says himself, he was beaten fair. 
Somehow they’ve come together and Bobby 
wants to give him a lift and I told him that you 
were the one to go to for advice — ” 


FIXING UP THINGS 


119 


want to give him half the business/^ Bobby 
broke in. ‘^His mother’s sick and I stopped the 
little they were having to live on because I 
didn’t know about it. His foot hurts him aw- 
fully when he walks.” 

‘‘And he walked four miles three times a 
week to Two-Mile Pond to earn forty cents for 
her.” Mr. Bradbury’s voice was a groan as 
he said this. 

“He lugged a traveling man’s case this morn- 
ing and got a quarter, and Mr. Bradbury gave 
him twenty cents for some lilies and — ” 

“TSTo, no, no, no, Bobby, I, I — ” 

“Yes, you did!” It was Mr. Hawley who 
said it and he said it sharply. “You’re always 
doing some such thing. I know all about you, 
but let’s get back to this other thing. Who 
put Bobby up to doing this with Joe?” 

“Not me,” declared the grocer, who was 
plainly relieved now that his own actions were 
not in question. “I was surprised enough when 
they came in together, ten minutes ago.” 

“Who told you?” Mr. Hawley exclaimed, 
turning to his son. 

“No one told me. I got off the train all sold 
out, and Mr. Marsh said I had beaten Joe. He 


120 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


was glad, but he said Joe’s mother was sick 
and he was sorry for her, and for Joe. I came 
in here and Mr. Bradbury said he was glad for 
me, but he told me about the awful walk Joe 
had taken three times a week, and I was so 
sorry that I couldn’t breathe and I went into 
the woods and I found Joe and brought him 
here. I want to give him back the money I 
stopped—” 

The flushed-faced boy could go no further. 
Sobs shook him — but he was next staring in 
amazement. The most wonderful thing in all 
that wonderful day had happened. His father 
had knelt before him and taken him in his 
arms. 

‘‘You thought it out yourself?” a strong ring 
was in the man’s voice. “I have worried a lot 
about you. You have had such astonishing 
luck in making money and I could not see where 
it would take you — ^but I worry no more. Your 
heart, not your head, will govern you from this 
out. I owe a great deal to Joe for being the 
instrument that brought your awakening.” 

“Joe’s looking pretty anxious,” Mr. Brad- 
bury suggested. “Couldn’t we let him in a 
little as to what’s going on? He just tried to 


FIXING UP THINGS 


121 


raise himself to the top of the counter to see 
in hereP^ 

^‘WeTl go out to him at once,’^ Mr. Haw- 
ley answered. ^'WeTl have to handle this care- 
fully. I knew Phoebe was sick and Mrs. Haw- 
ley has been planning some way to get her over 
to our house where she could rest, but Phoebe ^s 
proud — ’’ 

‘H guess her pride won’t stand in the way 
now,” Mr. Bradbury said. ‘‘She’s tried and 
tried, and she’s had hard luck enough to make 
her bless the one who will tide her over until 
she gets strength to try again. If it wasn ’t for 
her love for Joe I believe she would be willing 
to have the light snuffed out any time. She 
made a bad mistake once, Phoebe did; and it 
hit me, too, for it sent my boy away from 
home.” 

“We’ll have Joe think that Bobby has to 
have him. That is the way it must get to 
Phoebe. We’ll say he has to be up early in 
the morning, and that will help Phoebe to agree 
to be brought over to us. My wife will have 
her well as she ever was, in a month. Bobby 
can give Joe a dollar a day while they stay 
with us and a dollar and a half when they go 


122 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


home. Phoebe will then be able to do her sew- 
ing and Joe will be helping ont in good shape. 
They will be quite independent of any one, 
and thatTl make Phoebe happy. 

Prom anxious waiting, Joe came to the time 
when he knew all, and his pleasure and wonder, 
as the plan unfolded, kept him from speaking. 
When he was told that his mother was also to 
go where he was so much needed, he kissed Mr. 
Hawley’s hand in gratitude. 

Mr. Bradbury had been alternately blowing 
his nose or wiping his eyes on a large red hand- 
kerchief while he listened, open-mouthed; but 
suddenly he went out into the back store on a 
run. When he returned he brought a pair of 
crutches. 

declare, I don’t know why I didn’t think 
of those before,” he exclaimed, quite short of 
breath. ‘^They come on me like a flash. 
They’ve been up in the attic for a dozen years. 
I’ll saw them off and Joe can try them.” 

When the boy had the supports under his 
arms, a little while later, and was making prog- 
ress without using his weak leg, Mr. Hawley, 
watching him, said to the grocer: 

^‘Perhaps if the weight was kept off that leg 



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“ I DECLARE, I don’t KNOW WHY I DIDN’T THINK OF THOSE BEFORE 

Page 122. 





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FIXING UP THINGS 


123 


for some time, it would get strength. Strange 
some one did not think of crutches before.’’ 

<< There’s a doctor down to Boston that could 
do something for Joe, I believe,” Mr. Bradbury 
declared. ^^Next time I go down I’m going to 
have a talk with him. I’ve been thinking about 
it for a month.” 

He spoke low, but there was no danger that 
the boys would hear. Joe was moving about 
faster than he had ever moved in his life and 
Bobby was keeping close beside him to guard 
against a fall. 

could carry cases with these,” Joe said. 
He was experimenting, having caught up a box 
with which he was traveling about. 

‘^You won’t have time to carry boxes,” 
Bobby returned. 

Joe stopped his racing. His exuberance over 
his rapid movement was quieted by the words 
which meant such full provision for his future. 

'H’ll go and tell mother,” he said, his lips 
trembling. 

^H’ve got to go up your way,” interposed 
Mr. Bradbury. ‘H’ll take you along;” then in 
an aside to Mr. Hawley, ‘H used to see a lot of 
Phoebe before my Hick went away, and she sort 


124 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


of knows my ways. 1^11 have things fixed up 
so that she T1 he ready to go over to your house 
when you call for her.’’ 

When Bobby and his father got home that 
afternoon they found Mr. Hartwell and his 
family sitting with Mrs. Hawley on the back 
piazza. 

‘^This is getting to be a regular thing, this 
coming up to get a breath of your air,” Mr. 
Hartwell began, as he shook Mr. Hawley’s 
hand. ‘‘When you want to sell this place I’ll 
find you a quick customer at your own terms. 
It is almost beyond belief that such a cool loca- 
tion is in the same town as those hotels down 
in the valley.” 

“I look at it in this way; this place is just 
about good enough for Mrs. John Hawley. I 
can’t imagine my swapping it off for such stuff 
as money. I suppose that I am the nearest 
approach to a satisfied man — ” 

Mr. Hawley stopped in his laughing re- 
joinder, and his usual serious expression re- 
turned, as he corrected himself. 

“I should say that I am a positively satisfied 
man, now. ’ ’ 

He then told Bobby’s business history to the 


FIXING UP THINGS 


125 


interested visitors. He told of his doubts in 
regard to the wisdom of letting the hoy go on, 
and of his fears of the effect on his character; 
hut now he had no more fears after what had 
happened that afternoon. Before he was 
through, Mrs. Hawley had her arms about the 
boy and was sobbing in happiness. 

‘Ht^s a noble way in which to settle the mat- 
ter,’’ Mr. Hartwell declared. ‘H have heard 
that there was much sympathy for the lame boy, 
but he did not have the goods. When Bobby 
brings him to the railroad hotels we’ll take good 
care of him.” 

Bobby was facing the man — ^but he hesitated. 

‘‘Say it,” Mr. Hartwell commanded, laugh- 
ing. “It’s yours for the asking.” 

‘ ‘ If you would give Mr. Brewster a talking to 
instead of making him lose his place in the 
Thorndike, perhaps he would do better. That’s 
the way my father does with me, and it makes 
me try.” 

Mr. Hartwell was too astonished to reply at 
once, but when he recovered himself, he an- 
swered : 

“I have given you a promise, and I’ll keep 
my word. Brewster has been told that his 


126 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


services are not wanted after this month, but 
we’ll give him another chance. He shall know 
just how it came about, too. ’ ’ 

Bobby and Joe were sitting under the window 
of the Hawley spare room, two hours later. 
In the bed of the spare room lay Joe’s mother. 
She was very white and still, and her long, 
beautiful hair, which Bobby’s mother had just 
combed out, covered the pillow. The air, per- 
fumed by wood and grass, came in at the open 
window, and something else came in — a laugh 
from Joe. 

His mother raised herself and listened as to 
an unusual sound, her beautiful eyes larger 
and a flush mantling her pallid cheeks; then 
she put out her hand and touched that of her 
self-imposed nurse. In her low voice came: 

H was a stranger and ye took me in.’ ” 
The house was still. Joe had gone to bed, 
happier than he had ever been before. Mrs. 
Hawley and her boy were together in the sit- 
ting-room when everybody else in the house was 
asleep. Bobby knelt at her side and her arms 
were about him. 

‘‘We can keep Joe and his mother from be- 
ing poor any more, can ’t we ? ” the boy asked. 


FIXING UP THINGS 


127 


‘‘We have been more fortunate than poor 
Phoebe,’’ was the reply. “We can have them 
stay with us until the mother is stronger, and 
we will try to think of how we can help them, 
further. I am a very happy mother to-night— 
not because I think of how much better otf I am 
than Joe’s mother, but a long time ago a man 
talked about those who were unfortunate. He 
was such a wonderful man that we read of Him 
now, in our Bibles. He said: ‘Inasmuch as ye 
have done it unto one of the least of these, ye 
have done it unto me.’ Oughtn’t I to be a very 
happy mother when my boy has given me an 
opportunity to serve my Savior T’ 


CHAPTEE XII 


Business in full swing again. Bobby receives a 

TIP ON THE TRAIN. PLANNING ON A NEW BUSINESS. 

Waiting the decision of the road. 

JoE^s eagerness to learn his duties aboard 
the raft, and his delight in the new life which 
had opened to him, gave Bobby an almost equal 
share of happiness. The lame boy’s mother 
could not restrain the tears of joy as she lis- 
tened to the glowing account of his experiences. 

Bobby notified the hotels that orders would 
henceforth be taken by his assistant, and it 
seemed that the customers appreciated a chance 
to express sympathy for the latter’s unavoid- 
able failure in business, for the orders jumped 
so much that in three weeks new business was 
paying all additional expenses. Joe used Dob- 
bin in filling orders, and the eager, serious 
boy got around so nimbly on his crutches after 
he left the team that, although few thought 
of the sympathy in the case, all were glad to 
give a lift to such a patient fellow. 

Bobby saw that he was completely relieved 
128 


BUSINESS IN FULL SWING 


129 


from the home business. He extended his 
operations until he had ten regular hotels await- 
ing his coming, in and outside of Marshfield, 
and cards in windows of private houses advised 
him that lilies were wanted there. 

He had gone back to daily runs into his out- 
side territory, leaving home sometimes in the 
morning, at other times on the noon express, 
according to the trip he was about to make. 
He had a fast horse awaiting him in Marshfield, 
and he often did twelve miles an hour on its 
back, including stops. 

One afternoon towards the beginning of Oc- 
tober, he was coming down on the local when 
his attention was caught by some conversation 
in the seat in front of him. 

‘HUs a long ride,’^ one man said; ‘Hhe com- 
pany should have a place at Thorndike where 
a person could get a small lunch, at least. In 
the winter the trains are late a good part of 
the time and I have about starved before I got 
to the city. IHs too long a stretch to cover 
without a break, to eat. Some fellow will take 
a chance and start a restaurant in Thorndike, 
sometime, and I think he hi make good.’^ 

In a flash Bobby had solved a problem which 


130 MR. EESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

had been causing him disturbance for some 
time — a position for Joe after the lily season 
had passed. When he arrived in Thorndike 
he went to Mr. Bradbury with the new idea. 

run a business of supplying lunches if 
I only made expenses,’’ he declared. ‘‘It 
would keep Joe with me. I wouldn’t want to 
be without him in a lily season, again. ’ ’ 

“Now here’s a singular thing,” Mr. Brad- 
bury announced. ‘ ‘ Mr. Marsh and I were talk- 
ing about that day before yesterday. He’d 
been thinking that Joe would be out of a job 
in the winter, and so had I, and here you come 
with a scheme to make everything right. 
Marsh told me six months ago that there was 
complaint from passengers because there was 
nothing to eat nearer than the city. About half 
my time when I am very busy has to be given 
to serving drummers and other people who 
want ginger pop, or a piece of pie, or crackers 
and cheese. Now I wouldn’t wonder if there 
was a good thing for both of you for the winter 
months, at least. Talk it over with your father. 
You’ll get some good advice out of him.” 

Bobby had the talk with his father that even- 
ing. Mrs. Hawley had taken Joe and his 


BUSINESS IN FULL SWING 


131 


mother home at the first appearance of the 
Hunter’s Moon, and was helping put things to 
rights before leaving them. 

Mr. Hawley heard the plan, and Mr. Brad- 
bury’s comments on it^ without interruption. 

‘Ht would take quite a lot of some woman’s 
time, baking pies and turnovers and making 
cotfee,” was the father’s first remark. 
couldn’t have your mother do it. She and I 
have both worked hard enough in our lives to 
have earned a rest.” 

Bobby was up immediately with a brand-new 
idea. 

‘‘Joe’s mother can cook for us.” 

Mr. Hawley hesitated before continuing, 
looking all the time into the grate fire. At last 
he resumed: 

‘ ‘ That street car line will be opened to Brand- 
ford in November and there would be some 
business brought in by that.” Suddenly he 
straightened himself up in his chair, “I’m in- 
clined to think that the plan is a good one. 
That man on the train said that somebody 
would do it, sometime, and I believe you had 
better be the some one. ’ ’ 

“I won’t say anything about it to Joe.” 


132 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


Bobby’s first impulse on attaining anything was 
to give full vent to excitement. “I’ll surprise 
him. Won’t he be tickled, though?” 

“If I were in your place,” his father con- 
tinued, “I would figure it out in this way — 
You have made a good deal of money on the 
lilies this year and you can atford to take a 
chance at an investment. See if you can get the 
right of the road to handle papers, and things 
to eat at this station. An exclusive right, 
which will not allow any one else to sell any- 
thing in the station. You want to pay some- 
thing each year, say one dollar, or five, or ten — 
but something. If you don’t have a considera- 
tion in the contract the road can put you out 
with a few weeks’ notice. You have Mr. Hen- 
derson and Mr. Marsh as friends — ” 

“And Mr. Hartwell,” put in the boy. 

“Yes, that’s so. Now that exclusive right 
is an asset that would help sell the business. 
It won’t be so great a risk, for if you get tired 
of it, there’s always some one who is looking 
for a business chance. If you secure the right, 
for say ten years, you can afford to put up an 
attractive house and open a regular restau- 
rant. ’ ’ 


BUSINESS IN FULL SWING 


133 


‘‘Don’t say a tiling about it, even to Mother,” 
the boy stipulated. “We’ll surprise her, 
too.” 

Bobby broached the matter to Mr. Marsh the 
next day. 

“Yes, Mr. Bradbury and I were talking about 
it this morning,” the station-master acknowl- 
edged. “I’ll speak to Mr. Henderson. If you 
do anything in building I would not wonder 
if the road made you put up a pretty nice place. 
There’s plenty of room for a good structure 
just south of the station. Henderson ’ll be up 
to-day, likely as not. I’ll see what I can do for 
you. ’ ’ 

All that afternoon the new enterprise was in 
Bobby ’s mind. He was sure that he could make 
a success. When he got home from Marshfield 
he went to Melenson the contractor and ar- 
ranged for him to look over the ground and see 
what kind of a structure could be erected south 
of the station, and at what price. 

The boy wanted so much to tell his mother 
that finally his father suggested that she be 
brought into the secret. The lady exclaimed, 
ecstatically : 

“That will be a real business ! Joe’s mother 


134: MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

would not have to sew. It would be much more 
healthful for her in the restaurant.’’ 

‘‘You would have to pay her all that she could 
make sewing, and more,” Mr. Hawley inter- 
posed, “but let’s hear what Mr. Henderson 
brings you for news on the exclusive right. No 
use planning any more, until you know about 
that. ’ ’ 

During the wait for news, Joe was working 
steadily. Every day gave evidence of improved 
health and greater efficiency. In the morning 
both boys gathered the lilies and worked the 
north-bound -local. Bobby then arranged his 
work for the hotels up the road while Joe de- 
livered at the Thorndike hotels. Together they 
handled the south-bound express at noon, after 
which Bobby worked the north-bound, and at 
the same time got to Marshfield. 

In the afternoon Joe went for what lilies had 
been ordered for late delivery, and almost al- 
ways his mother, and sometimes Mrs. Hawley, 
went with him. It was a healthful trip for the 
one, and the other had never ceased to enjoy 
the rides on the raft. Joe delivered his late 
orders at six o’clock, and the day’s work was 
completed. 


BUISINESS IN FULL SWING 


135 


One afternoon, when the wait had lasted^ a 
week, Joe’s mother said, as she stepped from 
the raft: 

‘‘I shall not have many more sails. Mrs. 
Pickering has sent for me to come and sew for 
her three days of next week.” 

‘‘I wouldn’t go just yet,” Mrs. Hawley re- 
turned quickly; ‘‘rest another week.” 

“But I feel that I must go to work,” with a 
worried expression. “I have rested a long 
time. ’ ’ 

Then Mrs. Hawley told her the secret, con- 
cluding with: 

“John thinks that we shall get the right. 
The baking will take most of your afternoons, 
and when you feel like it you can go down and 
’tend in the restaurant. It will be more health- 
ful work than if you were sitting at home alone, 
sewing. You ought to be worth more to the 
business than you could possibly earn sewing. 
I wasn ’t to tell you about it until we heard from 
Mr. Henderson, but you have plans to arrange 
too. Don’t tell Joe about it. Bobby wants to 
surprise him.” 

“I feel so grateful to you for being so good 
to Joe, ” the young mother said. ‘ ‘ He has had 


136 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


SO little happiness in his life that he is living 
in a paradise now. He was saying only a few 
evenings ago that his work would stop soon. I 
will help out Mrs. Pickering, because I prom- 
ised her I would — then ITl wait as anxiously 
as Bobby, to learn about the restaurant.’^ 

That evening, Mrs. Hawley, after silent re- 
flection, said to her husband : 

‘‘Dick Bradbury never married, did he?” 

“ No, ” was the answer. ‘ ‘ When Phoebe mar- 
ried Tom Dayton it broke Dick up, completely. 
Henry says he has never wanted even to talk 
to a woman since. Dick thought he was sure of 
her, but he was too overbearing, and Phoebe 
jilted him on the impulse of the moment. He 
had told her he wanted her to marry him. He 
should have asked her to. Henry says he is 
rich. His entire life-work has been just mak- 
ing money. ’ ’ 

“I think,” Mrs. Hawley had dropped her 
sewing and was gazing dreamily out on the 
moonlit lake, “I think that Phoebe is prettier 
and more lovable than when she was a school- 
teacher, even. There’s something so quiet 
about her. I think, too, that if Dick Bradbury 
saw her as she came off the raft, this afternoon 


BUSINESS IN FULL SWING 


137 


— those great eyes of hers expressing such gen- 
tle love because of Joe’s happiness, and her 
cheeks tinged with the color from her ride on 
the water — ^he would move back to Thorndike.” 

You might write and suggest that to him.” 

But his wife had resumed her work without 
responding to his bantering mood. 


CHAPTER XIII 


The railroad gives the right at Thorndike station. 

Joe provided for. 

Mr. Marsh brought his wife out to the Haw- 
ley farm to make a call the evening after Joe 
and his mother went home. 

‘‘Have you heard from Mr. Henderson 
asked the impatient Bobby. 

Mr. Marsh laughed, as he replied : 

“Well, let me sit down, wonT you? You 
don’t seem to remember that I’m standing up 
all day and a little rest does me good some- 
times.” 

That was the cue that the reply had arrived, 
and the entire Hawley family made prepara- 
tions to receive it. 

“Mr. Henderson says,” began the tantaliz- 
ing station-master, “that as much as he ad- 
mires Bobby, the railroad couldn’t think of 
making a contract with him. He’s under age 
and the instrument wouldn’t bind.” 

Bobby had begun to walk the floor before the 
man was half through. 

138 


JOE PROVIDED FOR 


139 


‘‘But,” resumed the narrator, and Bobby 
stopped, “the road will, at a nominal charge, 
make a contract with John Hawley, and will 
grant an exclusive contract if he will be respon- 
sible for any damage which might accrue to the 
railroad from explosions, or other unforeseen 
occurrences having origin in said restaurant 
and — ” 

“But that’s all we want,” broke in Bobby. 
“Father is just the same as I am. I couldn’t 
do it if he didn’t want me to, anyway, because 
I’m a minor — ” 

Mr. Marsh laughed heartily at the boy’s ex- 
citement. 

“You’ve got to curb that boy, John,” he said. 
“If things don’t go along down there as fast 
as he wants them to, I’m afraid he’ll tip over 
the depot.” 

“Bobby must control himself,” Mr. Hawley 
agreed. “Tell the rest of the conditions; and 
Bobby, you hold your comments until Mr. 
Marsh is through. You’re wasting energy that 
might be put to more profitable use. One of 
the most important requisites in a business man 
is the ability to wait until he hears all that is to 
be said on the matter which concerns him. 


140 MB. BESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

YouTl save months of time during your life by 
doing so, and also, you will not confuse the sub- 
jects ’ 

‘‘That’s a strong point in Dick Bradbury,” 
Mr. Marsh went on. “Hartwell says he never 
saw Dick’s equal in getting at the foundation 
of a thing, nor anywhere else such quick action 
when the foundation is discovered.” 

“Mr. Hartwell knows Dick, then,” Mrs. 
Hawley interposed. Her husband turned a 
quick glance on her and said : 

“Mrs. Hawley thinks that if Dick could see 
Phoebe to-day he would move back to Thorn- 
dike—” 

“I guess not,” the station-master’s wife put 
in. “Dick was a very angry man when he left 
here. Phoebe’s made an awful mess of her life. 
I never had any patience with her. I guess 
she fully knew what she’d done when Tom 
Dayton bragged in the engine house, before 
more than twenty men, that he had cut out Dick 
Bradbury and John Douglass — ” 

“ Mercy!” exclaimed Mrs. Hawley. “Was 
there another one ? ’ ’ 

“Didn’t you know about John Douglass?” 
Mrs. Marsh asked, in her high, thin voice. 


JOE PROVIDED FOR 


141 


‘^That^s because youVe always lived up here 
out of the way, like ; but we down in the town, 
know about everything tbat^s going on.’’ 

‘‘I guess you do,” Mr. Marsh acquiesced. 
Mrs. Marsh was known the town over as Thorn- 
dike’s most famous gossip. The lady did not 
notice the interruption, but continued, delighted 
at Mrs. Hawley’s uncomfortable interest. 

^‘When Phoebe chose Tom, Dick went west, 
but John Douglass stayed right here. Tom was 
a good-looking boy but he was awful weak. In 
a month after he married, John Douglass had 
him wound around his finger. He got him spec- 
ulating, and what not. He loaned him money 
and took his notes and he got a mortgage on 
Tom’s house. He worried Phoebe a lot.” 

‘‘Did you know about this?” Mrs. Hawley 
asked her husband. 

“Yes,” was the answer. 

“Oh, it was all Phoebe’s fault,” Mrs. Marsh 
resumed. “Dick Bradbury is the president of 
a bank, a director in a big street railroad and 
in two or three steam roads, has the biggest 
wholesale hardware business in the west — and 
he is interested in forty other things besides 
owning real estate enough to make any one 


142 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


man rich. And Phoebe might have been Mrs. 
Dick Bradbury. She knows she made a mis- 
take — 

‘^Like as not if she had taken Dick they 
would have settled right here and run his fath- 
er’s grocery store,” Mr. Marsh suggested. 

^‘And if they had Phoebe would have been 
some better off than she is.” The last remark 
given as a final judgment on her argument. 
Mrs Hawley did not follow up the subject. 
She knew by the way her husband had given his 
^‘yes” that he wanted the conversation turned 
to another direction, and she said, when there 
was a chance to speak : 

suppose Bobby wants to know all there 
is to know about the agreement with the rail- 
road — ” 

‘^How long will they make an agreement 
for?” Mr. Hawley interrupted. 

^‘Well, I asked about that,” Mr. Marsh am 
swered, laughing, ‘‘and Henderson laughed at 
the time and stated that they would not make 
a railroad agreement to last ninety-nine years, 
but they would give the right for twenty-five 
years.” 

“That’s quite satisfactory,” Mr. Hawley de- 


JOE PROVIDED FOR 


143 


dared. ‘‘We can meet all their requirements, 
and I suggest that a contract he drawn up at 
once. Bobby has some figures from a carpen- 
ter, on a nice building. I think it will satisfy 
the road, and Mr. Henderson will be shown 
the plans and can approve them, or change 
them, as he sees fit.’’ 

Shortly after, the visitors left. 

“ So it ’s settled, ’ ’ Bobby exclaimed. It would 
have been difficult to tell which was the more 
pleased, he or his mother. 

“And you are at last a real business man,” 
she said. 

“With real business cares,” put in Mr. 
Hawley. ‘ ‘ This building expense is only the be- 
ginning. You must have fixtures and the com- 
pany will want you to have presentable ones. 
You will have to carry an insurance expense 
and the town will tax your establishment. You 
must try to curb your impatience now, for 
as likely as not, you will have a deficit at the 
end of the first year; but you worked out of 
a pretty bad situation in the lily business and 
the experience ought to be worth something 
to you. You have got to learn that every- 
thing will not fit just as you want it to, at first. 


144 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


You must depend on yourself, mostly, for Joe 
is not a strong boy — 

“But be is a great fellow to think,’’ Bobby 
declared. “It was he who arranged how we 
would handle the home business and the Marsh- 
field end at the same time. ’ ’ 

“I’m glad you give him the credit. Any 
one who begins by claiming that he does every- 
thing will become so egotistical, and finally so 
narrow-minded, that he won’t be able to see 
beyond himself. Such a person will lose a lot 
of opportunities, for he will not get any help 
from an assistant who is denied the credit of 
what he does. An assistant will not care to 
mention the opportunities he sees, if he knows 
that his advice is not appreciated.” 

“I wanted to tell Joe to-day,” the boy said, 
thoughtfully. “He was pretty quiet, and once 
he asked me when I thought we would be 
through selling lilies.” 

“Don’t keep the poor boy in a worry any 
longer,” entreated Mrs. Hawley. “He is won- 
dering what he will do next. ’ ’ 

“Well,” Mr. Hawley suggested, “he couldn’t 
properly be told to-day because nothing was 
settled until to-night. That’s another thing 


JOE PROVIDED FOR 


145 


you must conquer as a business man — your im- 
pulsiveness. Don’t give a plan away until it 
is matured. You remember that Mr. Marsh 
calls that feature Dick Bradbury’s strongest 
point. ’ ’ 

was surprised to hear that Mr. Hartwell 
knew Dick,” interrupted Mrs. Hawley. 

Nothing surprising in it. They have busi- 
ness interests in common. Dick is pretty well 
thought of among men of alfairs. I guess 
Thorndike people would be surprised if it were 
known just how rich he is. I was at Henry’s 
store when the expresses came in this noon. 
Henry always goes to the door and stays there, 
on some pretext or other, until every straggler 
has come away from the station. I don’t be- 
lieve he’d wait on the Governor at that time.” 

‘^He isn’t expecting Dick, is he?” asked the 
wife. 

‘^He’s been expecting him for the last ten 
years, and he’ll keep on expecting until he 
comes. Dick writes often, though, if only to 
say that he is so busy he can’t get away. By 
the way, Henry told me to-day that he is going 
down to Boston next week and he will see a 
specialist about Joe’s leg and foot. If it is 


146 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


thought advisable, Joe will be carried down, 
later. ’ ^ 

‘‘Oh, I wish he could be helped Mrs. Haw- 
ley said. “Phoebe would be so happy. You 
tell him all about the restaurant, Bobby, to- 
morrow. ^ ’ 

Bobby divulged the secret as the boys were 
driving to the depot in the morning. Joe lis- 
tened in amazement as all the perfected details 
were explained. 

“ITl tell mother, can’t I?” was his first ex- 
clamation. 

“She’s known it all for a week,” Bobby 
answered, laughing. 

“And she never said a word to me about it,” 
in incredulous wonder. 

“We were surprising you.” 

“I was a pretty bad boy to work against 
you,” the tone one of sober reflection. “I won- 
der sometimes why you ever gave me a chance 
at aU.” 

“It was a good thing when you and I came 
together, and we wouldn’t have come if you 
hadn’t given me the tussle you did; besides 
I’ve got a chum, now, and I never cared to have 
one, before.” 


JOE PROVIDED FOR 


147 


‘‘It’s awfully good of you to say that.” 

“To think it, too, you ought to say,” with 
another laugh. “We’re going to have a sign 
on the restaurant that will read ‘Bobby and 
Joe’s.’ ” 

Joe’s face flushed. 

“That wouldn’t do,” he said. “It’s yours.” 

“But you’ll be there. A lot of people know 
you and your name will help. Your mother 
is going to be with us, too. She’s promised 
to do the baking and help at the counter, and 
she’s going to be paid for it, so quit your worry- 
ing, right now.” 

Joe’s eyes were brimming with tears of pleas- 
ure. 

“I did worry,” he acknowledged, “because 
I’m not of much use at heavy work — ” 

“Well, you fit in here, all right,” Bobby de- 
clared. 


CHAPTEE XIV 


Joe goes to the hospital. Progress in the restau- 
rant BUSINESS. Dick Bradbury. 

One evening Mr. Bradbury brought his wife 
to call on the Hawleys. It was quite an effort 
for Mrs. Bradbury to get so far from home and 
Mrs. Hawley was accordingly flattered and 
pleased. 

‘Ht wasn’t my idea,” acknowledged the gro- 
cer’s wife. ^‘Henry’s been down to Boston to- 
day, and he’s so excited about what the spe- 
cialist says about Joe that he couldn’t wait to 
see Mr. Hawley in the morning. ’ ’ 

Here was news to interest every member of 
the Hawley household. They all drew up 
chairs. 

told him all about Joe, as far as I knew,” 
began the grocer. wish that I had had a 
talk with Phoebe, just before going, but I was 
afraid that nothing could be done for the boy 
and I didn’t want to raise hopes in her that 
might be, after all, only disappointing. From 
what I could gather in the hundred or more 
148 


JOE GOES TO THE HOSPITAL 


149 


questions the specialist asked, there’s a good 
deal more than an even chance that Joe might 
get entirely cured, while it’s a sure thing that 
a contraption can be supplied by this Doctor 
Brainard, which will stop every bit of pain 
when the leg is walked on.” 

^‘What a pity we haven’t known about this,” 
Mrs. Hawley mused. ^^Just think of all the 
awful time that boy has had — ” 

She stopped, for her husband’s hand was on 
her shoulder. He had been watching the sweet 
sympathy in her face and a grim smile of 
pride and admiration was now curling his lips. 
Mr. Bradbury went on: 

told the doctor Joe’s circumstances — but 
I also said — that there were a few friends up 
here who would like to help him — and the doc- 
tor, who is not so very big in size, but has a 
heart big enough for two men, just turned me off 
the subject and said his first desire was to do for 
the boy, and if there was a time in the future 
when the bill could be paid, all well and good, 
and if there wasn’t — it was all well and good 
as far as he was concerned, just the same. He 
is a strange man — so quiet and thoughtful, that 
if he put his hand on Joe and told the boy to 


150 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


walk, and Joe did walk, cured, I wouldn’t be 
at all surprised. You know, it’s been done, 
since the beginning of things.” 

‘‘Well, you finally said that his friends would 
pay?” Mr. Hawley was nothing if not a very 
practical man. 

“Yes. I knew that I could figure on you — ” 

“Joe will be able to pay it all himself, in time, 
and he will want to do it. We’ll advance him 
what it costs.” 

‘ ‘ Mrs. Hawley had better prepare Phoebe for 
Joe’s going away to-morrow,” Mrs. Bradbury 
suggested. “She’d better tell her just how 
good the chances are, hadn’t she, Henry!” 

“Yes,” the grocer replied, “I don’t see any 
harm in telling it all to her now. It’s the doctor 
who gives the opinion, and I’ll vouch for the 
fact that he isn’t one who talks for the sake of 
talking. ’ ’ 

Gentle hearted Mrs. Hawley performed her 
mission with such tact, that Joe’s mother’s 
fright was changed to an anxiety to try the 
specialist’s treatment, and Joe went away with 
both Mr. Hawley and Mr. Bradbury, the next 
Monday. Bobby told him just before the train 
started : 


JOE GOES TO THE HOSPITAL 151 

‘^Nothing for any one to do here jnst now but 
the contractor. The lily business is done for 
until another spring. You do just what the 
doctor says, and don’t get impatient to see your 
mother. Write a letter to her every few days 
though, or she’ll be down there, sure. You’re 
going to come back with your leg and foot cured. 
Father says so, and he doesn ’t make mistakes. ’ ’ 

Such assurance would have bolstered up a 
much less gritty boy than Joe. He went away 
with a brave face, and his last wave of the hand 
was for his still badly frightened mother, who 
was at once taken to the Hawley house to stay 
until her boy returned. 

An anxious two days passed for the mother 
before the men returned, then with tear-flooded 
eyes and trembling lips she heard how Joe had 
undergone the breaking of a bone in order that 
the treatment might be properly started — that 
he was bound in casts and must remain in one 
position for two weeks. 

^ ‘ He ’ll have to stay there two weeks after that 
and have constant attention, but you may con- 
sider that the worst is over,’^ Mr. Hawley said. 

Joe is full of grit, as any bright boy would be 
who could look forward to the time when he 


152 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


could walk as well as any one else. His last 
message to you was that you must not worry, 
for there was nothing now to worry about.’’ 

Rapid progress was now being made on the 
restaurant building, and Joe’s mother was con- 
sulted so often on what must be done to make 
things handy for her that she was very busy. 
Every day a letter came from Joe, brimming 
with courage, and confidence in the absolute 
success of the operation — such cheerful letters, 
in fact, that his mother could throw off all ap- 
prehension and give her nrind to the work which 
was before her, then her waiting ended. 

"When Joe got home, what he saw served to 
put a restraint into his first greetings. In the 
midst of a great litter, there stood a beautiful 
building with a sign in black and gold under the 
eaves, and it was just as Bobby said it would 
be: 

Bobby & Joe’s 

It seemed to the boy that the entire town 
was out to meet him, but in all the crowd he 
saw only his mother and he gazed at her in 
amazement. The four weeks had converted her 
into the most beautiful person he had ever 


JOE GOES TO THE HOSPITAL 


153 


looked on. Total absence of financial worry, 
and ont-of-door air, bad indeed wrought such 
a change in her that Mrs. Hawley was not the 
only neighbor who insisted that she was pret- 
tier than when she had taught the grammar 
school. Joe got down otf the train without 
help and without a limp. He did not use 
crutches', though he walked slowly and cau- 
tiously. The clamor of the greeting from peo- 
ple whom he had never spoken to, as well as 
from his friends, almost amounted to a cheer. 
He walked to his mother and took her in his 
arms; then, his part of the exhibition over, he 
took his crutches and went into the new restau- 
rant. 

‘ ‘ What do you think' of it T ’ Bobby was shout- 
ing. ‘ ‘ We have worked like sixty to get cleaned 
up before you got here, but we couldnT do it. 
The shingling bothered. We started up a little 
to-day and sold everything your mother baked. 
Everybody thinks it^s fine. We’re going to 
have oyster stew and a lot of such things. I 
told your mother that you would scheme out 
some way in which we could carry the hot stew 
right into the train. ’ ’ 

Joe was listening, his smile showing how in- 


154 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


terestedly. As the plan was unfolded which 
showed how his value to the business was to be 
accounted, his restraint went immediately. He 
could think, if he was not yet strong enough 
to act. That very evening he went to work and 
his part was so well executed that ‘‘Bobby 
and Joe^s” became famous before winter really 
set in. The oyster stew for train-selling he 
solved by serving in a paper bucket on a paper 
platter, on which also was a paper saucer of 
crackers and a pinch of salt and pepper. A 
bright tin spoon completed the arrangement, 
which was so attractive that Mr. Hawley was 
moved by admiration for it. 

“The whole outlay is seven cents and we get 
fifteen for it,’’ Joe explained. 

“They make a great team,” Mr. Bradbury 
declared. It was on one of the many afternoon 
consultations in the restaurant. “I wouldn’t 
wonder if they made so much money that Joe 
would buy in, after a while. His name’s on the 
sign, so everything is ready for it. ’ ’ 

For just an instant the brightness went out 
of Joe’s face — the idea seemed so impossible. 

It was Joe who designed the birch-bark bas- 
kets in which entire pies, and quarter-pieces, 


JOE GOES TO THE HOSPITAL 155 

and cake, were sold, and as the holiday season 
approached there was a large demand for such 
edibles from the city, by people who had passed 
down the line at some time or other and who 
remembered the lunch at Thorndike. 

There was no doubt about the success of 
‘‘Bobby and Joe’s’’ when, in the latter part 
of November, the street railway line was opened 
between Brandford, on the Western Division 
of the C. & A. and Thorndike. By this the 
two divisions of the railroad were connected 
by twelve miles of trolley cars, where before, 
a roundabout way of sixty-five miles via Hills- 
boro was necessary. 

One afternoon Bobby sent one of Joe’s pack- 
ages of oyster stew to Hillsboro, by the* noon 
express, for Mr. Henderson, and when the Di- 
vision Superintendent received it, he at first 
smiled, hut later walked about his office, his 
hands clasped behind his back, his forehead 
wrinkled in thought. 

The first of the year saw the business still 
on the increase, and the Marshfield News, in 
a “New Year’s Edition,” gave almost a half- 
column to “Bobby and Joe’s.” 

The article went back to the competition in 


156 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


the lily business and made quite a story of the 
coming together of the boys. It also told of 
the brave fight against adversity that Joe’s 
mother had made; then it finished by exalting 
the ‘‘youngsters,” whose attention to business, 
and uniform courtesy, had raised their restau- 
rant to the position of “one of the best known 
enterprises in the county.” 

A newspaper is the nearest thing possible to 
a human brain. It keeps one informed on every 
subject, and it works surprising conditions. 
One of the copies of this issue of the Marsh- 
field News was taken to the post office that 
day with many others. An experienced clerk 
was standing with a circle of well-worn mail 
pouches about him. All the pouches were sus- 
pended from iron racks so that their mouths 
would be kept wide open, and they stood as 
straight as a healthy boy. 

The mail clerk would take a paper and throw 
it, without even a glance at the gaping mouths, 
so practiced he was ; and when a bag was filled, 
it was taken off the rack and replaced by an- 
other. This especial copy of the Marshfield 
News was thrown into a bag, and when that 


JOE GOES TO THE HOSPITAL 


157 


bag was filled it was tied and sealed, and car- 
ried to a mail car which came down on the after- 
noon local. That bag rode two days and three 
nights, then that car was set off the train in 
a city, out west. 

It was dark at the time, but many wagons 
were awaiting the arrival of the car, and that 
bag containing the copy of the Marshfield 
News was carried to a great post office, and 
assorted into a certain carrier’s ronte. When 
people in that city were going to their day’s 
work, that carrier went along his way answer- 
ing many a hail, because everybody knows a 
mail carrier. After a while that carrier came 
into a beautiful, tree-lined street and went up 
to a great residence and rang the bell. A maid 
came and took the paper, carrying it to a hand- 
somely furnished room where it was laid on a 
desk with other mail matter. 

The copy of the Marshfield News lay there 
all day, then a quick-stepping, busy-looking man 
came into the room. Taking the chair at the 
desk he ran his hand over his mail. Except 
for the light which shone down on the pack- 
ages and the flickering of a grate fire the room 
was somber in its loneliness. The maid did 


158 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


not appear. There was no sound of children's 
voices from anywhere in that great house, nor 
any sign of children ^s mother, to throw a gleam 
of color into the handsome, lonely place. 

The man was like one who was accustomed 
to thinking and working alone. He opened 
letter after letter, many times putting the 
Marshfield News aside to get at more im- 
portant things. At last he had finished all the 
others and tearing the wrapper from the paper 
he settled himself into a large chair and began 
the perusal of the first page, taking more time 
in the occupation than he had spent on any 
other paper or letter. 

He started on the second page, and in course 
of time was reading the article on Bobby and 
Joe’s.’^ He read it all through, carefully — 
about the lily business — the coming together 
of the boys — about the inception of the res- 
taurant business, and about Joe^s mother, and 
her patience and courage, for her lame son’s 
sake. 

When it was all finished the paper dropped 
from his hand, as if he had gone to sleep, but 
instead, his gray eyes were gazing steadily 
into the grate fire — then he roused himself and 


JOE GOES TO THE HOSPITAL 


159 


taking the paper again read it all over — away 
down to where it told of Joe’s mother, and 
her patience and courage, through her love for 
her crippled son. 

That copy of the Marshfield News had 
worked a condition, as surprising as the most 
eloquent man could have raised. The man in 
the chair bowed his head in thought. In the 
new attitude he did not appear as one who would 
rather think, and act alone, but it seemed as 
if he were listening to something which had 
come back from long ago. After a time he 
arose and began to walk about the room, his 
hands clasped behind him ; then he spoke to the 
grate fire : 

^^ITl take time, and go home and see father 
and mother. ’ ’ 

If Henry Bradbury, the grocer at Thorndike, 
had heard this soliloquy, he would have been 
pleased enough — for the man was his son, 
Dick. 


CHAPTER XV 


A December storm. Mr. Henderson offers Bobby 

THE management OF ALL THE DIVISION RESTAU- 
RANTS. 

That was a great winter for the restaurant 
business at Thorndike. In every station within 
twenty miles placards whetted the travelers’ 
appetites by such reminders as, 

you have eaten one of ‘Bobby and Joe’s’ 
pies, you ought to try their grape or quince 
preserve, or one of their hot oyster stews.” 

If the traveler did not know who “Bobby and 
Joe’s” referred to, some regular frequenter 
of the road was sure to enlighten him, and by 
the time the train reached Thorndike he was 
prepared to join in the rush into the pretty 
restaurant. 

“It beats all what a business they’re doing,” 
Henry Bradbury commented. He had come 
over with John Hawley to see the expresses 
arrive. “And they hitch together so well. 
They’re chums, as well as partners.” 

“It’s because they respect each other,” Mr. 

160 


A DECEMBER STORM 


161 


Hawley answered. ‘‘Neither is capable of do- 
ing a mean thing. It’s the way through life — 
if a couple come together that are open and 
honest with each other, whether it ’s in married 
life or business, there will be no separations, 
and but few differences. The pity of it is that 
people don’t have a chance to study character 
enough, and you see a fine character hitched 
up with a mean one. There are cases where 
the fine one refuses to be lowered to the level 
of its mate’s; but you know how it is if you 
mix New Orleans molasses with Black Jack — 
the goods are deteriorated. The boys are so 
well mated that I’d like to see Joe getting more 
out of the business than he is. Bobby would 
like to take him in on halves. It isn’t business- 
like in him, but I would not object if I did not 
know that Phoebe would not stand it. She’s 
paying Mrs. Hawley so much a week on the 
board for the time of her sickness and while 
Joe was in Boston. We don’t want her to, but 
she will. She would look at our taking Joe in 
as a favor because of her hard luck. She said 
recently, that she was perfectly happy, and 
quite independent. I’d like to see them getting 
more from the business, though.” 


162 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


That conversation took place on the tenth of 
December, and before another day had gone 
something happened which made Mr. Hawley 
more desirous than ever to have the boys on 
equal partnership basis. 

A severe snow-storm set in after the ex- 
presses had passed on, and at night when the 
branch train from Burlington should have come 
in, she was reported stalled, twenty miles away. 
The ‘‘down’^ local which would take the Bur- 
lington train’s passengers, was reported an 
hour late. The ^^down” local got in, and for 
a time business in the restaurant was as brisk 
as at noonday. 

At eight o’clock when Mr. Hawley came to 
see what was detaining Bobby, he carried 
Joe and his mother to their home. When he 
arrived back at the station, he found that a 
big ‘‘Mogul” type of engine had come up from 
Hillsboro with a snow plow, to assist the train 
on the Burlington branch, and the Division 
Superintendent had come up on the “Mogul.” 
Mr. Henderson was talking to Bobby. Mr. 
Hawley heard the conversation, which ran : 

“We can bring the train in in two hours, 
I’m confident. I’ll send the down local to Hills- 


A DECEMBER STORM 


163 


boro and take the Burlington branch passengers 
through, and connect them with the twelve 
o’clock flyer at Hillsboro. They will be about 
starved, though, when they get here, and mighty 
disappointed if you are closed.” 

‘'They won’t be disappointed,” Bobby ejac- 
ulated. “This place doesn’t shut up as long 
as there’s any one to be fed.” 

“Good!” exclaimed Mr. Henderson. “You’ve 
had experiences with snow-storms before. I 
forgot that for the minute.” 

The busy man went out of doors and soon 
the local was on its way down the line. The 
great “Mogul” then crept through the station 
and started out on the branch. The people 
in the restaurant came to the door to see the 
plow throw the snow from the track. 

“There’s no cut that could fill tight enough 
to hold that outfit back,” Mr. Marsh said. 
“Henderson isn’t one of those men who direct 
from an easy chair, that’s sure. He gets pretty 
close to the difficulty, himself. I wouldn’t be 
surprised to see him the general manager of 
the road, sometime.” 

The “Mogul” brought in the train, arriving 
at Thorndike at a quarter to eleven. 


164 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


‘‘Don’t charge them for what is eaten. Send 
the bill to the company. Fill them np so they 
will not think of the delay — which has hap- 
pened through no fault of theirs.” 

These were Mr. Henderson’s orders, and for 
once the customers in a railroad restaurant 
took their time. Complaints changed to jokes 
over the situation. Mr. Henderson brought in 
the railroad crews and got them to eating, then 
he said to Bobby: 

“I want about ten minutes’ talk with you.” 

“All right,” said the hoy. “My father has 
taken hold, and I can spare you fifteen minutes, 
if you want it. ’ ’ 

“What will you charge to take our three 
eating-places and make them pay?” came the 
query. 

Bobby was too astonished to answer for a 
minute. Mr. Henderson continued: 

“I want some one who will do at Greenfield, 
Burlington, and Rochester, just what you’ve 
done here. I’ve watched you ever since you 
sent me that oyster stew, and I think you are 
the man for the job. If we can come to terms 
you can take hold of the proposition at once. 


A DECEMBER STORM 165 

Think it over, and give me an answer in two 
days. ’ ’ 

It was a satisfied crowd that finally got hack 
into the train. The bell sent out a muffled 
clanging, for the snow was still beating down, 
hard. The furnace doors of the ‘‘MoguP’ 
opened and let out a flare into a thick, snow- 
swirled atmosphere. The roar of escaping 
steam was checked, and the huge machine drew 
out the train. 

Bobby saw it all as one in a dream. He 
could only hear Mr. Henderson ^s last words, 
‘‘Think it over and let me know in two days.’’ 
It was all so astounding. He had been offered 
the management of every restaurant on the 
division. 


CHAPTER XVI 


Dick makes a merchant of Joe. Scientific finance 

AS VIEWED BY JOE’S MOTHER. 

Joe’s mother knew there would be a run on 
the restaurant when the belated train got in, 
and she baked far into the night in preparation 
for the following day’s business. When Bobby 
came for them the next morning he had the 
light wagon, for he knew the buggy would not 
take down the food. 

When Mr. Henderson’s otfer was told them, 
mother and son viewed the situation in con- 
sternation. 

‘‘What shall we do at the station?” the 
mother asked. 

“We’ll have to fix it up in some way — if 
I go,” was Bobby’s reply, and it was given in 
such a matter-of-fact tone that the incident 
was suddenly belittled into something far less 
than the calamity it had at first seemed. Joe 
thought it all over and when they had arrived 
at the station, said : 


166 


DICK MAKES A MERCHANT 


167 


glad for you. Mr. Henderson has a lot 
of confidence in you. ’ ’ 

‘‘Well, if I take that job youdl have to look 
over the field with me,’’ Bobby returned. 

During the forenoon Mr. Bradbury was told 
of the otfer from the road, and he said to Mr. 
Hawley : 

“Now if the boys were partners, as you sug- 
gested, this thing could he straightened out 
easily. Bobby could hire some one to do his 
work, here, and take the other restaurants. I’ll 
see Phcebe and explain it to her, and I’ll find 
half the money to buy with. It’s a safer in- 
vestment than half the schemes that’s put onto 
us up-country fellows.” 

That was the way it was left, but another 
condition was working to the benefit of Joe, of 
which his older friends knew nothing. 

The “down” express arrived first, next day, 
and its passengers had poured into the restau- 
rant and were seated, when the “up” train 
came in. From the last train, a man stepped, 
and after standing a minute looking at the 
restaurant, and over across the street, he went 
into the pretty building. All the tables were 
filled, and the man went to the counter behind 


168 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


which Joe^s mother was busily at work, and 
waited to be served. 

There was a heightened color on Joe’s moth- 
er’s face, for business had been unusually 
heavy. When she got to the last customer 
she looked up for his order. A flare of crimson 
chased the pink from her cheeks. 

^‘Dick?” she said; then, ‘‘Mr. Bradbury — ” 

“No, Dick,” in a low tone, to dissipate the 
interest of those near who had heard her sur- 
prised exclamation; “I’ll order later, as you are 
very busy. I’m not going out on the train.” 

Joe’s mother seemed to have too many 
thumbs after that. She apologized profusely, 
but without that her customers would hardly 
have taken offense. She was usually so cool 
that it was quite an interesting experience to 
see her so flustered. Even Joe finally no- 
ticed an agitation in her movements. 

“I’ll take you home as soon as the trains 
get away,” he said. “You’re tired. You 
worked too long last night. ’ ’ 

“Why, Joe, I’m just as well as I could be. 
Don’t call attention to me. I’ll get over mak- 
ing mistakes.” 

She was really more collected, but the color 


DICK MAKES A MERCHANT 169 

came back, when, twenty minntes after the 
trains had pulled out, Dick Bradbury returned 
for his dinner. Joe was counting the train re- 
ceipts. The customer came to the counter. 

‘^WouldnT you find it more comfortable at 
one of the tables?’’ Joe’s mother asked. Joe 
looked up at such an unusual remark. 

^‘No,” was the answer. 

^^You can have a steak with French fried 
potatoes — or — ” The color was actually irri- 
tating to the woman. She knew it was there 
but she could not help it. Besides, it was not 
her restaurant voice that she talked with. Joe 
knew that, because he looked up again. 

‘^I’ll have the steak,” the order came. 

When the food was ready she brought it, 
then going to Joe she put her hand on his 
shoulder and led him over to the counter. 
There was pride and beautiful love in her eyes 
as she said: 

‘^This is my Joe.” 

Dick Bradbury’s steak was untouched. .He 
sat looking into the large serious eyes, so like 
hers, which did not fall before his gaze. Both 
were serious faces. Finally a smile moved the 
corners of the man’s mouth. He said: 


170 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


a fine boy! He looks like you!’’ 

Joe wondered at the pleasure in her eyes at 
this last. He was waiting an explanation to it 
all, from her. She gave it. 

‘Ht’s Mr. Bradbury’s son.” 

^‘Dick?” the query came with eagerness. 
The boy’s hand was thrust out, then he flushed 
and withdrew it. His eyes fell. 

‘^Yes, Dick,” was the response, and the 
man’s face bore an interested look, now. 

oughtn’t to have said it.” Joe’s natural 
quietude had returned. was glad because 
Mr. Bradbury has been waiting for you so long. 
I called your name as I hear him speak it, 
often. ’ ’ 

That was the beginning of a strong friend- 
ship between the man and the boy. Dick Brad- 
bury stayed about the town a week and his 
interest in Joe increased with each interview. 
Afternoons, when the business rush was over, 
the two traveled around town together, Joe 
taking his crutches when a long tramp was sug- 
gested. Henry Bradbury’s delight at having 
his son was a beautiful thing for the boy to 
see, and he thought that it must be a good son 
who could bring such contentment to the face 



“This is my Joe.” — Page 169. 





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DICK MAKES A MERCHANT 


171 


which had so often looked with kindness on 
him. 

One afternoon the boy and man were ont in 
the fields together. They were sitting near 
the river, a mile ont of town, near where the 
railroad bridge crossed. Dick had been scan- 
ning the view. Finally he said : 

have seen this place in imagination, many 
times in the last dozen years. When I was a 
boy it was deeper, and I nsed to swim here. 
The walks to: and fro, in the lazy summer after- 
noons, before I knew much of responsibility — 
or disappointment — have come back to me very 
often. There used to be a little gully across 
where the shade trees are, where we used to get 
quahaugs, and bake them. I take it that you 
have never had such times — ’’ suddenly turn- 
ing to the boy. 

‘‘No,’’ slowly, “but I like to hear you talk 
of it. Until your father and Mr. Hawley took 
me in hand, I had to get about slowly, and T 
needed all my strength to help mother.” 

“You’ve done more than many a strong hoy 
would have done. What will you do when 
Bobby goes ? ’ ’ suddenly. 

“Perhaps he won’t go.” 


172 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


think he will. I have heard it talked 
over at the store. A new field has opened to 
him. Opportunities will arise now which could 
never come through the Thorndike restaurant. 
A boy should put his whole heart and brain into 
the thing which is occupying him, but he should 
always be on the lookout for a chance to better 
himself. ’ ’ 

Dick watched, as the boy thought over it. 
Finally the answer came : 

‘‘Mother and I worried when the pond-lily 
season was closing, but we have not since. We 
^ill stay in the restaurant, here. Bobby says 
we both are needed. ’ ’ 

“This business has been making money. 
Why donT you buy into itT’ 

“We haven T any money to buy with.’’ 

“Couldn’t you hire money on your half?” 
Dick suggested. “From fifty to eighty dollars 
a week is being made, above every expense, 
so Mr. Hawley tells me. You and your mother 
are drawing twenty-seven. If you owned half 
you would receive twenty-five more, at the low- 
est profit. Twenty-five dollars a week means 
thirteen hundred dollars a year, and that 
amount is six per cent on twenty-two thousand 


DICK MAKES A MERCHANT 173 

dollars. If you had twenty-two thousand 
loaned out at six per cent, you would receive 
thirteen hundred and twenty dollars each year. 
I think that Bobby would like to have you buy 
in with him, and as you have made half the 
business, he would let you in for five hundred. 
That’s all it has cost, so far. Now see how 
this would figure if you bought. You would 
be paying thirty dollars a year on interest and 
you would have thirteen hundred that you do 
not have now, to pay it from. If you paid one 
hundred out of that thirteen hundred against 
the amount you borrowed, you would own your 
half, clear, in five years. Your interest ex- 
pense would decrease six dollars a year, because 
you take the hundred from the face of your note 
every year. ’ ’ 

Joe was very silent. In his security over 
his mother’s present unworried position, he 
had not thought of practical finance. This 
plan at first seemed stupendous to him, but 
after the explanation he found himself think- 
ing that it might be possible. 

‘^You think that if a man was shown what 
the business was earning he might loan the 
money!” he asked, hesitatingly. 


174 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


‘‘Men do nothing but loan money for a busi- 
ness, often. I think this would be considered 
a good risk.^’ 

“But — but a boy? The man might be afraid 
to take a boy^s word — ’’ 

“The loaner would be secured. He would 
take a mortgage on your half. When the 
money was all paid he would have to release 
the mortgage. I think, however, that the 
loaner would not be afraid of his borrower 
when it was told him that he walked four miles 
a day on a frightfully painful foot, in an effort 
to help his mother. It was awful pain, wasnT 
it, Joe?’^ 

“Yes, sir,’’ Joe answered. 

“Well, we’re talking without accomplishing 
anything,” hurriedly. “I’ll loan you the 
money. You have the scientific financing of the 
matter. I’ll forward you a check as soon as 
you want it. Come, is it settled?” 

Joe could not answer. He could hardly be- 
lieve he had heard right, but Dick’s quick, 
business-like handling was very convincing. 
Dick continued: 

“When we get back to town I shall take the 


DICK MAKES A MERCHANT 


175 


electric cars and get over to Brandford. I’m 
going away to-night. Now is it settled!” 

‘ ‘ How can I thank yon ! ’ ’ the boy began as he 
grasped the large hand which had come down 
on his. His voice was choked by repressed 
sobs. 

There’s nothing to thank me for. It is a 
business arrangement from which I shall get 
my share. Is it settled!” 

^H’ll do it,” in unusual excitement. ^^You 
say that Bobby should make his change be- 
cause there are opportunities — and you are 
making an opportunity for me. My mother 
will be so glad. You’ll come and see her be- 
fore you go, and she will thank you better 
than I can. She says you and she went to 
school together.” 

Dick was looking otf down the river. 

^^You want to look out for her, Joe. She 
is working pretty hard. There’s apparatus 
that you might get that would make your mince- 
meat and save her labor. A range in the res- 
taurant would produce so much that she could 
do all her work there and have her evenings 
to rest in. You can buy all such things on time 


176 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


and the interest, and the sinking fund to pay 
for them would not cut into your profits much 
— besides, that business is going to grow, and 
with the proper tools, you will not have to hire 
so much help. A range which can bake forty 
loaves of bread at a time leaves a lot of time 
for the cook to do something else. Study scien- 
tific financing. When you get stuck in any- 
thing, write me. You might write me, anyway. 
Will you!” 

Every week,” the grateful boy exclaimed. 

‘‘And you could tell your mother that if she 
hears of anything which might interest an old 
schoolmate, she might add it to your letter. 
I won’t have time to see her, as it will be late 
when we get back. Come, I’m glad this thing 
is settled.” 

When Joe arrived at the restaurant, Bobby 
and his father were talking together, and Mrs. 
Hawley sat at the table. Joe’s mother was 
busy behind the desk. She looked up as the 
boy entered, and there was a strange expres- 
sion of indecision in her eyes. Bobby called: 

“Come over here, Joe. It’s decided that I 
shall take the restaurants. Father says I 
ought to. I hate to leave you, but I’ll get 


DICK MAKES A MEKCHANT 


177 


some one to do my work here, so you won^t 
have to do any more than you do now.’^ 

^^Dick, Mr. Bradbury’s son, told me about 
it,” was Joe’s reply. ‘‘He said that you 
wanted me to take a half -interest here, and be 
is to furnish the money and take a mortgage 
on my part.” 

Mr. Hawley burst into a loud laugh. 

“That’s Dick Bradbury, all over,” he de- 
clared. “He heard us discussing the matter 
and he was planning all the time. While we 
talked, he closed the deal. Well, it’s settled, 
and everybody ought to be satisfied.” 

“Wasn’t it lucky I had the sign made to 
read ‘Bobby and Joe’s’ I” Bobby said, as he 
gave Joe a whack on his shoulder. 

Joe’s mother had heard what had been said 
about Dick, both by Joe and by Mr. Hawley, but 
beyond that she knew nothing of what was be- 
ing planned. She felt that something was going 
on that she was being left out of. So when 
Mrs. Hawley went to her and gave her a hug 
and asked her if it wasn’t all splendid, she said, 
“Yes,” but that indecision which had been in 
her expressive eyes was now in her voice. She 
did not understand it at all. She knew that the 


178 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


buying she had heard spoken of must be greatly 
to her benefit, however. 

While she was baking that evening, and Joe 
was fixing up his accounts, and helping her, he 
was also giving her full information of the 
deal. 

^^Now isn’t that wonderful!” his mother ex- 
claimed, a raised skillet emphasizing her full 
comprehension. always thought people 

oughtn’t to borrow anything. You know, Mrs. 
Williams used to borrow sugar and pepper and 
what not, of me, and she never remembered to 
return anything — but it seems that when you 
borrow money it’s different. You borrow 
money to make more money with. The sur- 
prising part is that you can pay back borrowed 
money without taking out anything from what 
you already have, but you get it from the more 
the borrowed money makes, and that is dif- 
ferent from sugar and pepper and things.” 

Joe looked at her a minute. She was an 
enraptured, very lovely woman, and under- 
stood enough to make her extremely happy. 

‘^And then,” continued Joe, ‘^we own half of 
the business and after five years we can sell it 
for a great deal more than I am to pay. Bobby 


DICK MAKES A MERCHANT 


179 


would never Rave sold to any one else at five 
hundred for the half. We helped make the 
whole, and that’s how we got the half so cheap.” 

^‘Well, it’s just splendid, as Mrs. Hawley 
said. If we had known how easy it was to do, 
we would have done it long ago.” 

Bobby looked up at her again, and explained : 

‘^We had to have something to borrow the 
money on, you know, and we have not had the 
chance to buy the half and then borrow on it, 
until now.” 

There was a pucker in her forehead as she 
held up her dough-encumbered hand to desig- 
nate positive and full information. 

^^Oh,” she said, ‘‘now I see. There’s an 
awful lot to it when you come to think of it all, 
isn’t there? Perhaps Dick — ^perhaps Mr. 
Bradbury’s son will explain it to me carefully 
when he comes in, to-morrow — ” 

“He isn’t coming in to-morrow. He’s gone 
back west.” 

“Oh!” 

It was said differently. from the other “oh,” 
which had designated the acme of comprehen- 
sion. It was a surprised “oh,” and there was 
no pink color in her cheeks when she said it. 


180 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


For the next hour she was so absorbed in her 
baking that she did not speak, then she peeped 
into the dining-room to see tired Joe sound 
asleep, lying over on the table, with his head 
on his arms. 

‘‘Bless him!’’ she ejaculated, and all the 
lovely color came back to her face as she hur- 
ried for a pillow, and lifted the heavy head into 
a more comfortable position. 


CHAPTER XVII 


Joe has an attack of scientific finance, and writes 

A LETTER. 

Mr. Henderson’s proposition was to pay 
Bobby one hundred dollars a month for six 
months. If at that time there was not a marked 
improvement in the receipts from the restau- 
rants they would be discontinued, and dining- 
cars put on all through trains. He said em- 
phatically : 

^‘You have eight expresses a day at Green- 
field and twelve locals. Any one of our points 
should pay far better than your Thorndike sta- 
tion.” 

^Ht looks to me that it’s a case of the right 
man for thb job,” Mr. Hawley commented. He 
had heard the proposition. 

That’s the condition in a nut-shell,” re- 
turned the superintendent. 

When they were alone, Mr. Hawley said to 
his son : 

‘‘There is a splendid opportunity here, for 
181 


182 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


you. Now you want my old partner, ‘Mr. Re- 
sponsibility,’ to keep close to you, and you 
will win.” 

“And ITl see that Joe isn’t very far away,” 
commented Bobby. 

That same night Joe was writing a long letter 
to go out west. 

“What in the world can you be saying to him, 
that takes such a long time ? ’ ’ his mother asked. 
She was baking, as usual. The boy looked up, 
and asked: 

“You bake six loaves at a time, don’t you?” 

It was no reply to her question, but she an- 
swered : 

“Yes, I bake twenty-four in an evening.” 

‘ ‘ How many pies ? ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Twelve custards and twelve mince. I never 
have enough.” 

“That’s what I’m writing Dick about. He 
says that anything that can earn, should be 
bought, and he says that the first cost of a 
thing is not the only part to think of. Now 
suppose we had a big range down at the res- 
taurant that would bake forty loaves of bread, 
and twenty-five pies, and roast a leg of lamb, 
and a chine of pork, and a sirloin of beef all 


SCIENTIFIC FINANCE 


183 


at the same time, while kettles of vegetables 
are cooking on top, and hot closets are keeping 
food warm. Then suppose yon had a motor 
which would chop your mincemeat, chum ice- 
cream in summer, beat the eggs, and do all 
that kind of work — what would you think?” 

The mother was staring in amazement. 
donT think you are well,” she exclaimed, 
at last. ‘‘You must stop that figuring.” 

“I^m writing to Dick about such a range. 
IVe told him that Mr. Marsh will let me have 
the use of the coal-room at the station and will 
let me build a covered way between it and the 
restaurant. With these improvements you 
and I and the boy that Bobby hires could do 
the work when we have three times the business 
we have now. If we donT improve, we shall 
have to get some one else to cook, and that 
will mean some one else to do other work, and 
that would mean twenty dollars a week, at least. 
Twenty dollars a week means ten hundred and 
fifty dollars a year. That is the interest on 
seventeen thousand dollars at six per cent. 
Our new machinery would cost not more than 
four hundred dollars, and we would have it 
paid for in four months by setting aside, a hun- 


184 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


dred dollars a month — while in paying for help 
we would be giving out money forever.’’ 

‘‘My goodness, no wonder you’re sleepy, 
evenings, if that’s the kind of work you’re do- 
ing. How long have you been studying all 
this up?” The mother was quite unable to 
conceal her admiration. 

“I got it all from Dick. His scheme is that 
a man can make more money by using his head 
than he can if he only puts hands and feet at 
work. Now I want you to write something to 
him, right here at the bottom of the letter. ’ ’ 

“Oh, I couldn’t,” in blushing confusion at 
the suddenness of the peculiar request; “I don’t 
know anything about such things as you and he 
talk of.” 

“I don’t want you to write about that. Tell 
him anything that an old schoolmate would like 
to hear. He wants you to.” 

She thought a long time, and he watched her 
as the color came and went ; then she took the 
pen in her fingers, on which there was still a lit- 
tle dough, and she bent over him, and put her 
cheek close to his and wrote, “I thank you very, 
very much for being so kind to my boy. ” “Will 
that do ? ” she asked, with a timidity, and a wist- 


SCIENTIFIC FINANCE 


185 


fulness in the question, that stirred the heart of 
sober Joe, He thought her lovely enough for 
any boy to be proud of, and he kissed her lips ; 
then reading her message again, returned 
thoughtfully : 

‘^Well, it is not just what he told me to have 
you write, but I guess it will have to do.’’ 

His mother put her cheek on his again, and 
turned away his eyes that he should not see her 
burning flush. 

‘‘You haven’t signed it,” he said. 

“No,” came a faint response. “How would 
you sign it if you were I, Joe?” 

“I’d sign it — well, when you were school- 
mates, what did he used to call you?” 

“Oh, no, that wouldn’t be right. I was only 
a girl then — 

“Just sign it Mrs. Thomas — 

“Oh, Joe!” in a flurry over such a wonderful 
discovery, “I’ll just sign it, ‘Joe’s mother,’ be- 
cause he knows me better that way, now.” 

The letter went out on the noon express the 
next day, and it .took such a journey as the 
newspaper had, sometime before. When Dick 
read it in front of his grate fire out west, he 


186 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


laughed, and he wrote a reply, and drew a check, 
and carried the sealed package to the mail-box 
at the comer of the street, even though it was 
late, and on a chilly night. 


CHAPTER XVIII 
'Joe becomes a “real business man.” 

When the check arrived, Joe carried it over 
to Mr. Bradbury store, for he had seen Mr. 
Hawley and Bobby go in there when the former 
had come from the post-office with his mail. 
With Mr. Bradbury, they were all sitting in 
the office. 

^‘We were talking over things,’’ the grocer 
said, as he entered. Joe used his crutches but 
little nowadays, but his walk was always slow 
and cautious. 

<<I’ve got the money,” Joe said. thought 
I would tell you what I would like to do before 
it’s all settled, and see if you agreed to it.” 

Then he told them all his plans about im-. 
provements, explaining the financing, and the 
saving which could be made as the business 
grew. He was listened to attentively by the 
men, but Bobby was not yet schooled to keep 
his patience when such wonderful develop- 
ments were under discussion. 

187 


188 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


‘^My, but you^re a schemer he interrupted. 
‘‘I won^t feel so badly if I fall down with the 
other places, if we’re pushing things like that 
up here.” 

‘^When the range goes into the shed,” Joe 
continued, ‘‘we’ll do our broiling there, too. 
That will give us its place for an ice-cream 
stand and a soda fountain.” 

“The Fisher Drug Store in Marshfield is 
closing up business,” Bobby informed them. 
“There’s a fine fountain there that cost two 
hundred and fifty dollars. They will sell it for 
sixty, I heard.” 

“Better go up and see it,” Mr. Hawley ad- 
vised, and Mr. Bradbury thought the right 
thing to be done was for Mr. Hawley and him- 
self to ride over, that afternoon. 

“It might be sold,” he suggested. “It’s too 
good a bargain to hang on long. ’ ’ 

That put the sanction of the entire party on 
the improvement plan. Joe was very much 
pleased. 

“I explained it all to Dick, and he agrees to 
it,” he said. “He furnishes the money, and I 
did not want to do anything until he said it 
was all right.” 


A “REAL BUSINESS MAN’^ 


189 


‘‘I’m going lo break Tom Bishop into my 
place,” Bobby advised. “He’s a hustler and 
he’ll do what you want him to. Now if you 
had this job of mine, how would you go to work 
at itr’ 

“I guess I would go over to Greenfield and 
look it over a bit,” Joe answered. “I would 
find out how things are being done at present, 
and I wouldn’t tell any one what I was there 
for, or who I was. I would go in with the 
crowd and order a meal and notice what I got 
and how it was served. I’d first get a general 
idea of everything about it — then I would come 
home and talk it over with you. ’ ’ 

“And that’s the very thing I will do,” Bobby 
exclaimed. He was apparently much relieved. 

“There must be something wrong when a 
place will not do well where there is a chance 
to serve eight expresses and twelve locals,” 
Joe argued. ‘ ‘ Don ’t you get nervous over what 
you find out. The place can be made to pay. 
I think the railroad must be having some pretty 
poor help. Just imagine this place with four 
times the expresses that we have.” 

The consultation broke up with everybody 
satisfied with everybody else. Joe went back 


190 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


and told his mother that his plans were to be 
worked out in every particular. 

‘‘IVe paid the money and have got a bill of 
sale from Bobby and Mr. Hawley. Now I^m 
a real business man.’’ 

The next morning Tom Bishop started in 
to learn. Bobby coached him for three days 
and he was so well initiated that Joe and Mr. 
Hawley went to Boston to look over the various 
apparatus which would be needed in carrying 
out the improvements. When they returned 
the second morning after, there was so much 
to tell of the things which could be accom- 
plished when the new tools were installed, that 
Bobby declared : 

‘Hf I had known about all this when I agreed 
to take hold of the other places, I wouldn’t have 
promised to do it. ’ ’ 


CHAPTEE XIX 


Bobby goes to his new field op labor. Shorty. 

The evening at the theater. A good day ’s 

WORK. 

When Bobby alighted from the afternoon 
local at Greenfield, on the occasion of his first 
visit to his new field of labor, his first impres- 
sion was one of astonishment over the stillness 
of everything at a junction station during a 
train arrival. 

Beyond the movement of passengers and 
baggage there was no excitement whatever. 
The new manager took a look into the restau- 
rant, which occupied space three times as large 
as was used at Thorndike. Two purchasers 
stood before the fruit counter, and in the 
farther comer he could see that a few people 
were seating themselves at tables. There was 
no evidence of the hurry which had been a part 
of his own place on train arrivals, even in the 
earliest days of its opening. 

‘‘I wonder if Joe had any idea of such a con- 
191 


192 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


dition as this when he told me not to get rat- 
tled/’ the boy mused. 

A noise came at last. 

‘^Have a shine?” a voice called. 

Bobby looked around at a freckled-faced, red- 
haired boy, who shouted: 

‘‘Come, be a sport! Shine up!” 

“I will,” Bobby answered. In the few min- 
utes it would take, he would have a chance to 
think how he would best begin his work. 

The bootblack worked diligently, but gave an 
occasional upward glance at his customer, who 
was not very much older than he was. Bobby 
thought that he was inviting conversation, and 
said: 

“Business good?” 

The upward look now contained a blending 
of contempt and pity that made the customer 
smile. The answer conveyed the same contra- 
dictory sentiment. 

“Business is roaring. The only trouble is, 
we’re all deaf ’round here and can’t hear any- 
thing. This is one of the otf days, though, and 
just as soon as I get you shined I’m going up 
to the club. If you want to take a ride ’round 
the town I’ll get out my auto.” 


A GOOD DAY’S WORK 


193 


Bobby laughed. It was his first experience 
with a street urchin. 

‘^How many shines to-day, so far!’’ he asked. 

^‘You ’n’ another fellow ’n’ two drummer’s 
cases. That’s the business to-day.” 

His sportive attitude had vanished. The 
disgust on his face seemed to enlarge his 
freckles. 

don’t see how you keep your auto in good 
condition on such business as that,” Bobby re- 
joined. 

The boy caught the humor in the suggestion, 
but did not respond to it. 

‘‘Well, say,” he declared, “this place has 
had the services said over it but ain’t got the 
push to give itself a decent burial. This is the 
limit, this is. I’ve got my eye peeled for some- 
thing better, all right.” 

“How long has it been dead!” Bobby asked. 
It had come to him that he might learn 
something by simply sitting quietly in the 
bootblack’s chair. 

“Began to gasp three years ago. Petered 
out entirely about a year ago. There’s a 
story floating that a new deal is coming off 
in the restaurant. That’s what I’m hang- 


194 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


ing ^round for. There might be something do- 
ing for me.’’ 

Bobby wished the shine had but just begun. 
He knew he could get valuable information from 
the boy. 

hope you find something,” he said. 

^‘The place wasn’t always on the blink,” the 
boy continued. ‘^My mother was cook here 
once and she had to hustle — but she got 
bounced. ’ ’ 

‘^Bounced?” That expression had not 
reached Thorndike. 

Fired! Turned off! When the new man- 
ager came in, he had Henderson hypnotized. 
He was going to find everything, and give the 
road half profits. Well, say! The road hasn’t 
got a cent out of the place for two years. The 
new man let me keep this stand, but fired 
mother. ’ ’ 

‘^Here, Shorty!” came a shout. ^‘Get my 
bag out, will you ? ’ ’ 

‘‘Say, boss,” the bootblack said hurriedly, 
“are you in a rush? I can get a nickel for 
giving that gent his bag.” 

“I’ll wait,” was the reply. “Go for your 
nickel.” 


A GOOD DAY’S WORK 


195 


The boy was off, and back again in a few 
minutes. 

got it,’’ he exclaimed. ‘^That’s as good 
as a shine and it com^s quicker. Harris, that’s 
the baggage-man, goes away sometimes, and he 
puts a card on the door that tells any one to 
see Shorty. That’s me.” 

‘Hs Shorty your first, or last name?” Bobby 
asked, laughing. 

‘‘My name is Raymond Jones, but the drum- 
mers don’t know it.” 

“What did the new man bounce your mother 
for?” 

“Every new man bounces the old help, don’t 
they? My mother is cooking over at the ‘Burn- 
side.’ Going to stay in Greenfield to-night?” 

“I think I may,” Bobby replied. He had 
come to the conclusion that his job could not 
be done in half-day jumps. 

“Don’t stop at the ‘Burnside.’ It’s buggy 
over there, but you can get a first-class feed 
there. Half a dozen of the old-timers go to 
the ‘Burnside’ every time they come to town. 
Ben Libby travels for a big cloak house. He 
runs in as soon as he gets in town and he says 
to the waiter, ‘Tell Mary that Ben Libby’s in 


196 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


town/ and the waiter tells Mother and she 
knows just what Ben wants for dinner. It’s 
Mother ’s cooking that keeps the ‘ Burnside ’ res- 
taurant open.” 

Bobby was silent during the remainder of the 
shine. He had formed a plan and it concerned 
Shorty. When he was paying the boy, he 
asked : 

‘‘What time do you get through here, Ray- 
mond?” 

“Sh — ” the boy warned, looking about. 
“Don’t call me that. The drummers, would 
guy me if they heard I had such a handle 
hitched to me.” 

“Well, Shorty, then,” laughing. 

“I guess I’m through about this time — un- 
less you want to hire a fellow who can guide 
you through the city, and show you the places 
of interest — I’ll carry your bag, too.” 

The half-patronizing air, mingled with the 
evident anxiety to secure employment, made 
Bobby laugh heartily. Shorty plainly saw en- 
couragement, at least, in this, for he went on: 

“I’ll take you where you can get a meal that 
is a meal. ’ ’ 

“Well, I’ll just go you,” Bobby decided. 


A GOOD DAY’S WORK 


197 


about time to eat. I’ll hire you to see 
that I don’t get run over in your busy city this 
evening. I’ll give you fifty cents to take care 
of me until I want to go to bed, and I’ll pay all 
the other costs that happen.” 

‘‘I’m for the job,” promptly. “If there’s 
so much as a speck of dirt on your shoes when 
I get through with you I’ll take it off in the 
morning for nothing.” 

“For the first thing: I want to see an ex- 
press come in. I’m from the country and want 
to see how big the trains are that go through 
here.” 

“Well, say, you’re lucky to have me around 
when there’s expresses. You just get back in 
that chair and I’ll have an express go right 
plumb in front of you in a few minutes. The 
five twenty-three is due here, going east. 
Jim Bolster is ‘up’ on the machine and you’ll 
see him give a dive over to the ‘Burnside’ as 
soon as he makes his stop.” 

“Why doesn’t he get something to eat at the 
depot restaurant?” Bobby wanted to know. 

“Well, say, Jim’s the carefullest driver on 
the division. He ain’t taking any chances to 
have his insides give a flop on him, with three 


198 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


Pullmans and half a dozen coaches behind him. 
Well, say, a fellow went into the restaurant last 
week and ordered steak and he swore he found 
a slab of the stuff they make in the Hillsboro 
paper-board factory in it. If a fellow ordered 
anything in there he wouldn’t get in time to 
eat more’n a nubbin of it. Trains don’t wait. 
There’s your express, stopping at the water 
tank. She’ll roll in in three minutes. You 
stick right in that chair. You own it up to ten 
shines. ’ ’ 

^^No, I’ll poke around a bit. I’ll come after 
you when the train pulls out.” 

Shorty appeared pensive; then he grasped 
Bobby’s arm, asking, with poorly concealed 
anxiety : 

‘‘Well, say, you hired me for the evening, 
didn’t you?” 

“Yes.” Bobby’s voice showed his surprise, 
and the boy was partly reassured. 

“You’ll come back, honest Injun?” 

‘ ‘ Sure ’s you are standing there. ’ ’ 

The train was coming into the station. 
Bobby hurried to the front end of the platform, 
and for the next fifteen minutes he studied a 
most surprising condition. He heard the train 


A GOOD DAY’S WORK 


199 


men call “Greenfield/^ and saw some men 
standing on the lower car-steps, but when the 
train stopped these men made a rush for the 
lower end of the station and he saw them buy- 
ing fruit of a peddler. He was not long in de- 
ciding that it was no common occurrence, but 
that the peddler had been seen as the train 
had crossed the street. 

Eight people went into the restaurant. 
There were more than two hundred on the 
train. An old gentleman and lady got off a 
car, and asked a policeman the way to the eat- 
ing-house. It was pointed out, but the officer 
followed a few steps, and after a hesitation, 
stepped quickly after them and advised them 
not to order food which would take time to 
prepare. 

When Bobby went in among the diners, he 
discovered an unsavory smell about the place. 
It was dimly lighted, and he thought it about 
as lonesome a room as a hungry man could 
come to. The girl at the cashier’s desk was 
chewing gum, and looking untidy. The one 
waitress was calling for her orders, and occa- 
sionally she sent down a remonstrance through 
the order tube. 


200 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


The stop was to be ten minutes, and Bobby 
went out to the engine to be near when the 
engineer returned. Shorty was there, waiting, 
and as he approached, said: 

Here’s Jim Bolster coming back. Wait 
till I talk to him. Say, Jim, I’ve been telling 
this gent that my mother used to be cook here. ’ ’ 

^‘She did,” returned the grimy big man. 
‘‘And it would show some brains in some one 
if the company got her back again. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ There ! ’ ’ Shorty was intensely satisfied by 
this corroboration of his statements. “What 
did I tell you?” 

“This ain’t the new manager, is it?” Bolster 
asked, with a grin. “Say, if you’re the mana- 
ger and you want the railroad men’s vote if you 
ever run for governor, just get Mary Jones back 
into that kitchen.” 

The quick and totally unexpected turn in 
the direction of the conversation had brought 
a fiush to Bobby’s face. Shorty came promptly 
to his assistance. 

“Don’t be giving the gent any guff, Jim. 
He’s an all-righter. He’s hired me to show 
him the town, this evening. Ain’t you?” 

“Sure,” Bobby returned, and he knew that 



“Say, Jim, I’ve been telling this gent that my mother used 

TO COOK HERE.’’ — Page 200. 





A GOOD DAY’S WORK 


201 


the question was asked to get a further assur- 
ance of the promised employment. 

The train pulled out, and thinking there was 
no further need of watching such somber busi- 
ness application, Bobby said he was ready for 
the evening ^s entertainment. 

‘^Name your excitement,’’ Shorty directed. 
^‘If it’s the theater, there’s something going on 
at the Olympic to-night. If you want billiards, 
or pool, Murphy’s Great Western’s the joint 
for that. If you like to dance, Higgins’s Ca- 
sino’s got everything else ’round here skun a 
mile. Twenty-five for gents, fifteen for lady.” 

‘^Say,” interposed Bobby, who had not been 
giving full attention, ‘^does Jim Bolster eat 
the same thing, every day?” 

^^Not on your life. He orders his meals 
through the telephone from a junction thirty 
miles up the line. When he gets here it’s all 
set out for him, and all he’s got to do is to 
eat it. My mother looks out for that, all right. ’ ’ 

Bobby was silent a full minute. Shorty be- 
gan to show signs of impatience. Finally the 
question came : 

‘^How about the trains running the other 
way. Do the men eat at the ‘Burnside’ also?” 


202 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


‘^Dave Johnston hauls the 12.15 ^up.’ He 
calls from Hillsboro, forty miles east. Ed 
Skinner runs the freight that gets in at eight 
in the morning. He calls from Hillsboro, too, 
and there you are. You be down at the ‘Burn- 
side^ at eight, sharp, to-morrow, and you can 
see how it all works.’’ 

“I’ll be there,” Bobby replied. “Now I’ll 
telegraph my folks that I’m not coming home 
to-night, and then we’ll look around a little.” 

“I’ll go home and get some better togs on,” 
Shorty was at a point of high elation over the 
security his evening’s work had assumed. 

They went to the telegraph office and then 
to Shorty’s home, a cottage in the business 
district, near the railroad. When the guide 
appeared next, he presented an improved spec- 
tacle. 

“Not bad?” he asked. 

‘ ‘ Fine, ’ ’ Bobby exclaimed. “ Now we ’ll go to 
the ‘Burnside.’ I pay for the suppers.” 

“Well, say,” Shorty ejaculated, joyously, 
“you’re the real thing, all right. I’ve heard 
tell of this kind of business, but I never run 
up against it, before.” 

Bobby’s satisfaction with the food at the 


A GOOD DAY’S WORK 


203 


^ Burnside^ was so complete that Shorty was de- 
lighted. 

‘^Wish I could show her to you/’ he said, 
‘‘but nobody’s allowed in the kitchen during 
meal hours. I’ll tell her about you, to-night, 
and to-morrow morning I’ll get her to come 
to the serving door and have a peep at you.” 

“And do I get a peep, too?” Bobby asked, 
with a laugh. 

“I’ll fix it up if I can,” was the answer. 
“I guess she’ll come out when I tell her what 
you’ve done for me.” 

“What’s at the theater?” Bobby wanted to 
know. He had never been at a place of amuse- 
ment larger than Thorndike town hall, and the 
question came with interest. Shorty bright- 
ened perceptibly, as he answered: 

“It’s a play called ‘Little Em’ly.’ ” 

“Out of ‘David Copperfield’?” Bobby ex- 
claimed, in delight. 

“Well, I don’t know what they got it out 
of,” slowly, as if his reputation as a guide was 
being put to a test, “but there’s a man named 
Mike Cubber in it and he’s great. I heard 
Stevens, the ticket-agent, telling Harris he was 
there last night and he said it was a hunky 


204 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


show and when he wasn^t laughing he was cry- 
ing.'’ 

‘‘We'll take it in," was Bobby's comment. 

“Ten, twenty, or thirty?" Shorty wanted 
to know. 

“What's that?" Bobby asked. 

‘ ‘ That 's the price, ' ' in astonishment. ‘ ‘ Ten 's 
up in the gallery and thirty is down on the 
okkestry. ' ' 

“We'll have the best." 

“Well, say," with a delighted chuckle, 
“you're a nabob, all right. I never was in the 
okkestry. I'll see that mother gets a peep at 
you, all right, in the morning. She'd never 
believe I went to the okkestry if I didn't bring 
you 'round to prove it. We'd better go up 
and get the tickets, or they'll shove us behind 
a post and we can't see anything." 

Such a possibility was enough to start them 
otf in haste for the tickets. On the way Bobby 
told something of the book, “David Copper- 
field," which he had read three times. In his 
interest Shorty would get in front of the nar- 
rator, thus impeding progress until the incident 
was told to the end, then he would exclaim : 

“Say, I'm in it all right to-night, all right." 


A GOOD DAY’S WORK 


205 


After the tickets were purchased, under a 
verbal guarantee to Shorty that there wasn’t 
any slats in front of the seats,” that excited 
individual suggested that they go to the hotel 
where Bobby was to stop that night. 

‘‘I’d just as lief carry the bag, hut you 
ought to get your room. The ‘Gloucester’s’ 
the tony house, but the ‘Northampton’s’ good, 
too.” 

“We’ll go to the ‘Gloucester,’ ” Bobby said. 

Shorty was silent while on the way to the 
hotel. Occasionally he gave one of his upward 
glances. When the room was engaged, the 
clerk asked: 

“Will you go up to your room, Mr. Hawley I” 

“Yes,” Bobby answered. 

A uniformed bell-boy took the grip. Shorty 
was falling back to await his new acquaint- 
ance’s reappearance, when he was called. 

“Come along, Shorty,” and the bootblack 
followed. 

“Now this is something like,” Bobby ex- 
claimed, as he surveyed the apartment he was 
to occupy for the night. “Don’t you think so, 
Shorty ? ’ ’ 

The bootblack did not answer. Bobby tipped 


206 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


tlie bell-Loy with a dime. Shorty gave a start 
as he saw it. The bell-boy withdrew. 

^‘Say, you,’’ Shorty began, ‘^who are you, 
anyway?” 

‘‘What difference does it make?” Bobby 
asked, laughing. 

“It’s all right for you to be slamming ’round 
in this way, ain’t it?” Shorty had doubt in his 
tone. “You ain’t been doing anything off color 
to get all this money?” 

“I know just what I’m about,” was the an- 
swer. Then suddenly, “Don’t you be alarmed 
about me. I’ve done just about ten times as 
much as I expected to do when I started out on 
this trip, thanks to you. ’ ’ 

Shorty had begun to pace the soft carpet, 
his hands in his pockets. 

“I guess you’re all right,” he commented. 
“I wouldn’t like to wake up and find this was 
a dream, though.” 

Bobby’s laugh was so hearty that the boot- 
black was infected by it, and he continued : 

“By jiminy, it’s the greatest snap I ever 
caught on to. I guess mother’ll want to take 
a peep at you, all right.” 

They arrived at the theater at half-past 


A GOOD DAY’S WORK 


207 


seven, althougli the performance did not begin 
until eight o^clock. It was an interesting ex- 
perience to see the crowd come in. Shorty 
announced the arrivals in a hoarse whisper. 
He seemed to know everybody, by sight and 
reputation. Finally he said: 

^^Keep your eye down in front of the stage 
and you’ll see the okkestry crawl out. They 
have to stoop or they’d knock their heads otf.” 

The orchestra played. When the house was 
darkened and the curtain was run up, Bobby 
had become the more excited of the two. 

Such a play as that was! All the charac- 
ters he knew so well were there. Real houses 
with trees and fences were lived in and among. 
Every minute brought a new delight until the 
boy was tired from his wonderful experience. 
In the shipwreck scene, he lost himself com- 
pletely. 

^^How do they make the real wind and the 
water?” he asked Shorty. 

That absorbed person shook otf the grip on 
his arm, saying: 

^Ht don’t make any difference. It’s there, 
all right.” 

The next minute the great ship was straining 


208 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


and pitching in front of them and both boys 
were howling in ecstasy. 

Later they had quieted. Mr. Micawber had 
struck Uriah Heep with the ruler. 

^‘Swat him one for me!^’ roared Shorty. 
The audience, thoroughly in sympathy, shouted 
in laughter. Shorty was abashed at the result 
of his outbreak. 

^‘It^s all right,” Bobby insisted. ‘‘They 
donT care if you do holler.” 

When the show was over the boys stood out- 
side. 

“That’s the grandest thing I ever saw,” was 
Bobby’s comment. “Now we’ll go in some- 
where and get an ice-cream, and then I’U go 
to the hotel.” 

Shorty was not unwilling to indulge in one 
more luxury. Later they repaired to the 
“Gloucester.” 

“Be at the ‘Burnside’ at eight,” warned 
Bobby, as they separated. “Say, that was a 
great show, though.” 

“I’ll be there and wait for you. I don’t 
eat there.” 

“Well, eat there to-morrow morning at my 
expense,” was the command. 


A GOOD DAY’S WORK 


209 


‘‘All right, nabob, and with a thoughtful 
mien the bootblack went away. 

In his room, Bobby mind reveled among 
the miniature scenes he had witnessed at the 
theater; then his thoughts came back to his 
business. 

“I guess Joe will say that I have done a 
good day’s work,” he concluded. 


CHAPTER XX 

The lost purse. A neglectful cashier. 

In the morning he was at the Burnside^’ 
and saw the freight engineer arrive to a break- 
fast already served. 

‘‘Kerens Mother/’ Shorty warned. ‘‘She 
wants a look at you.” 

It was a strong, cleanly attired woman who 
came from the kitchen, and said: 

“I’m much obliged to you for giving my 
Raymond such a good time, last night.” 

“He didn’t have half the good time I had,” 
was Bobby’s laughing reply. 

On the way to the station Bobby said, after 
a thoughtful silence : 

“That’s a great scheme the engineers have. 
I suppose a brakeman could telephone for 
meals, too?” 

“Any one could,” was the answer. 

Bobby drew a long, satisfied breath. He had 
solved the important question of quick service 
in Greenfield railroad depot. 

210 


THE LOST PURSE 


211 


He paid Shorty the fifty cents he had prom- 
ised him, and which had been driven from his 
mind by the excitement of the evening before. 

‘H’ll see you again, before long,^’ he said. 
‘‘You watch out for me.’^ 

“I’d like to know who you are,” was Shorty’s 
last comment. 

A local was coming up the line, and Bobby 
watched its arrival. The same lack of method 
was shown in the restaurant as on the day be- 
fore. If any one wanted anything to eat, he 
had the privilege of coming for it. Turning 
to enter the station his foot struck something 
which was sen.t spinning away. It was a little 
purse. Picking it up he opened it and found 
a ticket to Compton, a fifty-cent, and a ten-cent 
piece, and a card. The name on the card was 
Ida Chadwick, Compton. 

“It will be easy enough to return this to its 
owner,” Bobby thought, and placing it in his 
pocket he entered the station. 

A girl was buying at the fruit counter, but 
there was no other customer. The untidy, but 
pretty cashier was chewing gum. She looked 
up as Bobby came along, and turning to the 
waitress, who was wiping dishes near by, said, 


212 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


her voice and smile brimming with insinua- 
tion : 

lot of people are up here enjoying the 
mountains, ain^t theyT’ 

Bobby knew that he was the subject of the in- 
sinuation. He looked over the display of pa- 
pers. 

^^Want anything r’ the cashier asked, and 
cast another look at the waitress. 

Bobby took a Herald, and paid for it. 

‘^You was in yesterday, wasn’t you?” the 
girl remarked, as she gave him his change. 

‘‘Yes, I was in here,” Bobby admitted. 

“Vacationing ’round here?” the girl queried. 

“No,” Bobby returned. “Just staying for 
a day or two.” 

At that instant both were attracted by an 
exclamation from the girl who had been select- 
ing fruit. 

“I’ve — I’ve lost my purse!” she said, in dis- 
may. “What shall I do?” and she rushed 
toward the door and out onto the station plat- 
form. 

“That’s her way to get acquainted,” the 
cashier remarked, her head tossing in disdain. 
“I’m ashamed of a girl that would do that.” 


THE LOST PURSE 


213 


‘‘Do whatr’ Bobby asked. 

“Just so’s you didn’t know,” was the reply. 
“You know she’s tryin’ to get acquainted with 
you. Some girls has got cheek ’nough for any- 
thing. ’ ’ 

The girl under discussion returned hurriedly 
to the door, but did not enter again. She ap- 
peared very much agitated. Bobby started to 
go out when the cashier called : 

“She’s working you. If you speak to her 
that’s all she wants.” 

“I’ll see if she really did lose her purse,” 
Bobby returned. “I’m coming back.” 

The loser of the purse had gone down to the 
ticket office, and when Bobby arrived there, she 
was saying worriedly, to the ticket-master : 

“I do not know what I shall do. The ticket 
was in it, and ten cents for my lunch and fifty 
cents to pay for my lesson — ” 

‘’‘And a card?” interposed Bobby. 

The girl turned tearful eyes on the boy. 
There was hope in the glance, however. 

“I had my card. It had the name, Ida Chad- 
wick, Compton.” 

“And here is your purse,” Bobby said. 
“You dropped it as you came oif of the train. I 


214 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


should have mailed it to Miss Ida Chadwick, 
Compton, to-nightP^ 

From a disconsolate young lady, she became 
a thankful, smiling one, immediately. 

do not know how I should have got home, 
and I should have had to miss my lesson,’’ she 
explained. 

‘^Well, miss,” the station-master informed 
her, guess you wouldn’t have had to stay 
out doors all night. We’d have sent you home 
and you could have paid for the ticket some 
other time. You come up every week.” 

did not know that you had seen me when 
I came for my lesson.” 

‘‘Oh, I know your father and he knows me.” 

“Well,” returned the girl, as she started 
away, “I’m very glad I found the purse, for 
now I shall not have to borrow a ticket, and I 
can have my lesson. I thank you very much, 
and you, also,” to Bobby. 

“That’s a smart girl,” the station-master 
said. “She’s a pupil of Odin Ramsdell. She 
plays at the church entertainments. Her folks 
are in straitened circumstances and she helps 
out all she can. She’s bookkeeper in the gen- 
eral store down there.” 


THE LOST PUESE 


215 


Bobby attempted to get the man^s views on 
the restaurant. 

“They don’t look to be a very wide-awake 
crowd in there, ’ ’ he said. ^ ‘ They act as if they 
were afraid of disturbing somebody.” 

The man smiled. 

“There’s going to be a turn-over, I guess,” 
was his comment. “Henderson’s pretty sick 
over the way the place is being run. Used to 
be a spanking good business here once, but it’s 
played out. Just run into a hole. Poor man- 
agement. Shorty has been telling me about 
the show you took him to last night. I guess 
he wont forget it for a while,” laughing. 

“I was over here yesterday afternoon and 
couldn’t get back to Thorndike and he agreed to 
show me the town.” 

“You could have taken the four-ten up to 
Brandford and got to Thorndike on the street 
railroad,” the station-master informed him. 

“I did not know that,” Bobby said, and he 
made a note for a way out of the difficulty on 
another occasion. 

He went back into the station. 

“She found her purse,” he told the cashier. 

“Oh, she did, did she?” was the unfeeling 


216 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


retort. never know whether they’re put- 
ting it on, or not. I just despise a cheeky girl. 
Don ’t you, Liz I ’ ’ 

She was still chewing gum. Obviously his 
return was taken by her as* a compliment to her 
attractions, and she employed her utmost blan- 
dishment to detain him, saying : 

‘‘How’d you like the show last night?” 
thought it fine,” he answered. ‘‘Were 
you there 1 ’ ’ 

“I seen you, so I must have been there,” was 
her answer. “I should have thought you could 
have found some one better ’n Shorty to take 
along,” and she gave a glance and a giggle in 
the direction of the waitress, who still wiped 
dishes. 

Bobby blushed at the evident hint, and the 
girl resumed: 

‘ ‘ Don ’t you want a peach ? I ’ll stand treat. ’ ’ 

Another giggle accompanied this remark. 
The waitress still wiped, but she laughed. 

“I guess not,” he said, and moved away. 

“What are you going off for? Ain’t mad, 
are you?” 

‘ ‘ Oh, I want to look around a little, ’ ’ was the 


answer. 


THE LOST PURSE 


217 


The girl chewed faster, in her disappoint- 
ment. 

‘‘Liz,’^ she called to the waitress, ‘‘come 
here a minnte.’’ 

“Can’t,^^ was the answer, though the girl 
laughed. “IVe got work to do.’^ 

“Come over,’’ Bobby joined in; “the dishes 
can wait.” 

“Oh, there’s more dishes than what you see 
here,” came back the laughing retort. “The 
eleven-five will be in before I get my work 
done, if I stop to talk silly to such people as 
you. ’ ’ 

“You won’t be killed with work by anything 
we get out of the ’leven-five. We don’t get a 
dollar off it,” the cashier said, with another 
giggle, but Liz kept to her work. 

Bobby took the ten o’clock train down to 
Hillsboro, and caught the express which was 
due in Thorndike at noon. All the way he was 
thinking over his problem. 

“I’ll give that waitress a chance in the new 
deal, but the cashier must go,” he mused. 

He had a talk with Joe that afternoon as 
soon as the trains had pulled away from Thorn- 
dike. He told him the entire trip — of his ex- 


218 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


perience with. Shorty, even to attending the 
theater. 

^^It seems to me,’’ he concluded, ^Hhat if I 
got up a scheme whereby I could use the engi- 
neer’s plan for feeding a train-load, I would 
have scored a fine point.” 

Joe had been thinking while he listened. 
Now he suggested: 

^ ‘ Make a deal with a brakeman to act as your 
agent on a commission basis. Have a double 
order blank printed. Your agent can work a 
train a half-hour before it gets to the present 
telephone points of the engineers. Suppose he 
gets an order for a chicken dinner at seventy- 
five cents. The person wanting the dinner gets 
half the blank, and is served, on payment at 
the restaurant, with a chicken dinner. The 
agent keeps the other half of the blank. The 
agent telephones his order, and when the train 
arrives the dinner is ready, immediately, for 
the person holding the order. The agent can 
claim his five per cent commission on every 
paid order that he can match up. If you give 
an agent the exclusive right to work the train, 
he’ll get through it. It’s like so much money 
found, for him.” 


THE LOST PURSE 


219 


'‘That's immense!" declared Bobby. 
"You're a partner worth having! The whole 
thing is done ! I'll have Shorty clang a big din- 
ner-bell on the arrival of every train. Well, 
say," unconsciously using the bootblack's term 
of emphasis, ' ' you 've made this thing easy. I 'll 
keep the peddlers away from the station, and 
with Shorty's mother in the kitchen it won't 
take long to turn things our way. I'll start 
Greenfield up before I tackle the other stands." 

"If you don't make Mr. Henderson's eyes 
open wider before a week has gone by. I'll be 
surprised," maintained Joe. 

"I've got to have better lights down there. 
It's actually dusky, after six o'clock. I'll take 
out some of the tables to make the customers 
get nearer together. It's hard on the waitress 
to travel around a place three times as big as 
this is. Besides it would take a crowd, to look 
as if you had half a dozen, eating. I'll have 
to get rid of that cashier." 

"Why don't you look up the girl that lost 
her purse ?' ' Joe asked. ' ' The ticket agent said 
her folks were having hard work to get along. 
That's a bad way to be, isn't it. Mother?" 

The mother, who had been an interested lis- 


220 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


tener, put her hand into that of her boy, a mo- 
tion which expressed gratitude at the helpful- 
ness she had received. Bobby saw it. 

‘‘The ticket-agent said she helped out all she 
could. Perhaps she would not be fit for this 
work. ’ ^ 

“Write and ask her,’^ suggested Joe’s 
mother. 

“ITl do it to-night,” Bobby decided. 

When he reached his home the boy again 
recounted his experiences of the day, not for- 
getting to give Joe full credit for his sugges- 
tion. 

“A great piece of work you’ve done to-day,” 
was Mr. Hawley’s comment, “and it all came 
from your having a shoe-shine. I’ve noticed 
all through life that the simplest things often 
lead to important results — at all events the boy 
who keeps his eyes and ears open sees and 
hears the most. ’ ’ 

“And that girl that lost her purse,” Mrs. 
Hawley proposed, “why do you not write and 
ask her if she would like to be cashier? You 
will have to change.” 

“Yes,” agreed Mr. Hawley, “you could not 
keep the one that’s there now. It is hard to 


THE LOST PURSE 


221 


turn any one away from work, but there are 
too many who would give their best efforts for 
you to keep a girl who has shown herself so 
neglectful of the trust imposed in her. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘Joe’s mother wanted me to write Miss Chad- 
wick at once — that a girl who was trying to help 
her folks would like to hear of something better 
to do.” 

“See if she cares to entertain the matter,” 
Mr. Hawley agreed. “If she doesn’t, she will 
tell you.” 

Bobby wrote a letter, stating that the salary 
would be eleven dollars a week, and asking her 
experience in business. Another letter was 
written, to Shorty’s mother. 

“It has been a wonderfully good trip,” the 
boy said, as he sealed both envelopes. “It 
looks as if I would begin to build Greenfield 
up without nearly so much work as I had 
thought.” 

“If you had not met Shorty, you would have 
been a week in learning what you now know. 
You’re pretty lucky, with all your smartness.” 

“But, John, you must acknowledge that he is 
smart, too,” Mrs. Hawley said. 

“Don’t you worry. Mother,” Bobby told her. 


222 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


‘‘The big thing is to get results. If they come 
because I’m lucky, I won’t find any fault.” 

Mr. Hawley laughed. 

“The boy is showing the effects of mingling 
with the world,” he said. “He’s not so easily 
piqued as he was once. He can give or take 
in an argument. By the way, Joe asked if he 
had bought into the lily business, when he took 
half of the restaurant. I told him that I 
though he had.” 

“Sure,” Bobby agreed. “He helped make 
that, even if he did compete with me. He can 
run it next year better than I can, and it is 
worth running. He’ll find a way, and we’ll go 
halves in it.” 


CHAPTEK XXI 


The opening op the Greenfield business. Miss 

Chadwick proves to be the right kind of a 

CASHIER. Shorty gets promoted. 

The two who had been offered positions wrote 
immediately. Miss Chadwick stated that she 
had been cashier and bookkeeper at Compton 
General Store for over a year, and that she 
had done the hanking and anything else re- 
quired of her. If she received the position 
she would try to please, and she gave several 
people of Compton as references. She said 
that the salary was more than she was receiv- 
ing at the store, and hoped she would be given 
the position. 

From Shorty’s mother came a reply with an 
assurance that if inquiry was made of any rail- 
road man as to her ability to cook, she would 
get references enough. 

Bobby engaged both at once, by letter. 

<<IVe got to pay Shorty’s mother all she got 
at the ^Burnside,’ ” he told his mother. ^M’ve 
223 


224 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


just got to pay her what she asks. ITl risk 
her asking more than she is worth. ’ ’ 

The amazement of Shorty and the amuse- 
ment of the station-master at Greenfield, when 
it was known who the new manager was, may 
be left to conjecture. 

see that he was some kind of a nabob, 
was Shorty’s way of disposing of the matter. 

Mrs. Jones simply wanted what she had been 
receiving before she had been forced to change 
to the ‘‘Burnside.” 

Bobby allowed Shorty two dollars a week to 
handle the bell at train arrivals. 

“And I hope to increase business so that 
your bootblack stand will pay better,” he told 
the boy. 

“I’ll root for you,” declared the delighted 
fellow. “I know how you do things, and I’ll 
bet you’ll win out here. If you do, it’ll mean 
a shove along for me.” 

The matter of employing the trainmen as 
agents was taken up with Mr. Henderson, and 
received that official’s sanction. A flyer was 
furnished which the trainmen were to distribute 
in season to later work the train for orders. 
The flyer read: 


THE GREENFIELD BUSINESS 


225 


—NEW MANAGEMENT— 

At the railroad restaurant, at Greenfield, first- 
class food, well cooked, will be served immediately 
on the arrival of all trains. Orders given to train- 
men will be telephoned from the last stopping 
place, before Greenfield. Full dinners or lunches. 

Satisfaction Guaranteed. 

Under same management 
as 

BOBBIE & JOE^S 
Thorndike. 

Bobby knew of the criticism he was receiving 
on all sides, but he followed Joe’s advice and 
did not get nervous. His age was the subject 
of laughs and quips. The former cashier had 
admirers, even though they had contributed 
but little to the support of the place, and these 
predicted the suddenest kind of a smash for 
the ‘Baby Manager.’ Harris, the baggage- 
man, had taken sides against him. 

“That new manager’s the biggest kind of a 
bluff,” was his remark to Mr. Stevens, the 
ticket-agent. 

“I haven’t heard him talking any,” was the 
ticket-seller ’s retort. ‘ ‘ He got the run of things 
pretty slick.” 

“You’ll see,” persisted the baggage-man. 


226 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


Electric lights were put in. The tables were 
moved into a space half the former size. Liz, 
the waitress, gave the new manager a tip that 
this last move was inciting the contempt of the 
criticisers. 

‘ ‘ They say that you know you can not fill the 
place,’’ she told him. She appeared really 
anxious as to the outcome of the new deal. 

*^I’ll try to do better than the place has done 
for a long time,” was Bobby’s reply. The 
boy was able to give and take, in an argument, 
and he showed no pique. 

He was an anxious manager, however, on the 
day on which his ‘‘system” was to begin oper- 
ation. Miss Chadwick, in the cashier’s desk, 
put a finishing touch, with the flowers she had 
brought from the country. Shorty’s mother 
had looked over the arrangement of things 
“upstairs” and had sent an approving nod to 
the manager. 

When the 8.15 a. m. local came into the sta- 
tion, the passengers aroused themselves in re- 
sponse to Shorty’s clanging of the bell. 

‘ ‘ Five minutes ’ stop here, ” shouted the boot- 
black. “Restaurant under new management. 
Time for a lunch.” 


THE GREENFIELD BUSINESS 


227 


Many passengers who had passed down the 
road in the last two years entered the restau- 
rant for the first time, the general object being 
curiosity, but many made purchases. 

‘^I’m getting them off the train,’’ Shorty 
said to Harris. ‘‘You never saw a local give 
up like that before. ’ ’ 

It was from the express due down at 11.10 
that Bobby hoped for a test of his “system.” 
He stood near the telephone at 10.20, and look- 
ing about saw that his help were all “with him. ’ ’ 
Mrs. Jones had come to the head of the stairs. 
The bell tinkled. It was a tense moment. 
Bobby repeated the order : 

“Twenty-six chicken dinners and ten sirloin 
steaks.” 

Mrs. Jones disappeared into her kitchen. 

“My goodness !” exclaimed Liz, the waitress. 
“I can’t serve all those orders in such a short 
time. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ If Mr. Hawley will take my desk I will help 
serve,” Miss Chadwick proposed. 

“All right; I’ll do it,” was the manager’s 
reply. “We’ll have more help as fast as it is 
needed, but let’s see how the day shows up, 
first.” 


228 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


When the train drew in and the crowd was 
being fed the ticket-agent came to Bobby at the 
cashier’s desk. 

never expected to see this, again,” he 
said. ‘^It’s like old times.” 

What the ticket-agent saw was repeated six 
times that day as the expresses came in. When 
Bobby balanced his books he had one hundred 
and thirty-six dollars. 

‘‘Well, say!” exclaimed Shorty, who had 
stayed to see the finish, “that’s more money 
than this shebang has taken in for a whole week, 
these last two years.” 

Bobby was jubilant. There were no faces 
at the doors to deride him for making a failure, 
not even Harris’s. He called the waitress. 

“Can you find two girls who will come in 
during the busy time?” he asked. 

“I’ll find them,” was her answer. “I know 
of two who might come.” 

“I’ll give them four dollars a week and put 
them on as regular as soon as the business needs 
them all day.” 

“I’ll bring them in to-morrow when I come,” 
Liz told him. “ One of them is my sister. She 
isn ’t doing anything, now. ’ ’ 


THE GREENFIELD BUSINESS 


229 


The trying day came to an end and the mam 
ager was alone. He was pacing the floor when 
he came on Miss Chadwick, who was sitting in 
a corner of the room. He stopped, surprised, 
and then realized the girFs predicament. 

‘^You canT go home until the seven-ten, can 

your' 

^‘No. There's no train between five-fifty and 
seven-ten. ' ' 

^‘You can take the five-fifty after this. I 
guess you'll he in your desk to-morrow;" and 
he told her of the arrangement he hoped to 
make for extra waitresses. 

^H've been thinking as I sat here that there 
is quite a sum of money in the cash-drawer. 
Where I worked in Compton we banked every 
afternoon, but it looks as if we should bank 
morning and night, here. ' ' 

Bobby started. The care of the money had 
not been thought of. 

‘H'll see if the station-master will let me use 
his safe, to-night," he said. “It was lucky for 
me that you were held over. I should have 
thought of that money in the night, and it would 
have spoiled my sleep. I'll get Mr. Stevens's 
permission." 


230 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


When he had the permission, he returned and 
helped her make the money into a package. 

‘‘I was also thinking of the bookkeeping plan 
that would be used here. I am a bookkeeper, 
and want to be as valuable as I can be to the 
business. I was paid six dollars in Compton, 
and the five dollars more that I get here, is very 
acceptable. I want to earn it.’’ 

She was so sedate and so zealous that Bobby 
began to feel a security in the possession of her. 
She went on : 

was thinking that if you pasted the train- 
men’s blanks and those of the customers to- 
gether, you could file each day’s work as far 
as expresses go, and if you ever wanted to know 
which train service was losing, you could refer 
to a month, or a year back. The express orders 
could then be carried to the ledger as a total. 
The day-book should show all food bought and 
wages paid, and the sundry cash. The ledger 
could then carry the number of the filing case 
that held the day’s express receipts, the re- 
ceipts themselves, the sundry cash, and the ex- 
pense. The books could easily be balanced each 
day and every part will be simple — but perhaps 
you have a way of your own. ’ ’ 


THE GREENFIELD BUSINESS 231 

The girl flushed as she realized the liberty she 
had taken, but she was reassured, for Bobby 
answered : 

‘‘I have been so anxious about getting the 
business that I haven T given the bookkeeping 
a thought. Get the books we need and open 
them with your way of bookkeeping. I guess 
111 have to get you to bank the money, for I 
shall not be here much of the time. ^ ’ 

‘‘I shall be glad to do all that I can.’’ 

‘‘Go home on the five-fifty, and I’ll have some 
one to close up. Better bank at two o’clock 
and I’ll get Mr. Stevens to let us use his safe 
until we can take care of ourselves, and you 
can keep the late receipts there. I shouldn’t 
wonder if I would have to make you the assist- 
ant manager here,” laughing. 

“Well, that’s better than I thought it might 
be,” she returned. “I was wondering this 
morning if I would be satisfactory to you. ’ ’ 

The whistle of her train sounded. Bobby 
accompanied her out of doors. Returning, he 
saw Shorty bringing out a broom. 

‘ ‘ Mother told me to sweep up, ’ ’ the boy said. 
“She said you’d probably forgot that had to be 
done, you had so many other things to think of. ’ ’ 


232 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


slipped me entirely,’’ Bobby acknowl- 
edged. ^‘I’ve got more work for you. I want 
you to go home and fix up about four o’clock, 
and come back and take Miss Chadwick’s desk 
so that she can go away on the five-fifty.” 

‘‘Me for cashier?” he exclaimed, his face 
showing his delight. 

“There won’t be much to do, but some one 
ought to be here to do what is to be done. I’ll 
pay you four dollars instead of two, and you 
can sweep up when everything is still. ’ ’ 

“Get a raise the first day, do I?” was 
Shorty’s comment. “Say, boss, the train or- 
ders is the talk of the town. ’ ’ 

“Did you ever see the midnight express go 
through here, Shorty?” rather abruptly. 

“Sure! She’s a linger. Comes to the water 
tank at 2.10. I often hear her go by the house. 
She has nine ears on her and she comes from 
Chicago without a break in the train. I was 
down here Fourth of July morning and saw 
her. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Anybody hungry on her ? ’ ’ 

“Betcher life! Folks gets hungrier travel- 
ing in the dark than they do in the daytime. 


THE GREENFIELD BUSINESS 


233 


They only get cat-naps unless they^re in the 
sleepers/’ 

^‘I’ve been thinking that as we’re here to ac- 
commodate the public, we ought to find some 
way in which that train could be served. You 
think up some plan to handle it. ’ ’ 

‘^All right, boss.” The broom was swung 
with an added vim, as if in an expression of 
the importance its manipulator had been given 
by the new confidence reposed in him. 


CHAPTER XXII 


Bobby extends his business, and Shorty receives 

HIS THIRD PROMOTION. 

The new waitresses came in the morning, in- 
stead of at noon as Bobby had requested. Liz 
said that they were willing to learn their parts 
on their own time, and they would, in this way, 
be of more value when the rush began. 

Bobby made Liz head waitress and paid her 
another dollar a week. 

Shorty was put to a new position of trust. 
It happened in this way. 

‘^Them two roasts that came this morning 
are off color, ’ ’ he told the manager. 

“ ^Off color Bobby repeated, very much 
puzzled. 

‘^You’ve got to look out or the provision men 
will unload a lot of cheap stuff on you,’’ was 
the answer. ‘‘There’s altogether too much 
trimmings to this lot. My mother wouldn’t 
stand for such roasts as them in her house. 
Couldn’t afford it. You buy it to eat, not to 
throw away.” 


234 


BOBBY EXTENDS HIS BUSINESS 235 


For an instant Bobby looked bis amazement, 
then he followed to the kitchen. 

‘‘Eaymond says we are not getting good 
meat,’’ he said to the cook. 

Shorty came in lugging a great joint. 

‘ ‘ How much waste is there on this ? ” he asked 
his mother. 

‘‘Well, there’s altogether too much,” was the 
answer. 

“You look out or they’ll skin you,” was 
Shorty’s warning. 

“You’ll have to look out for me,” Bobby ac- 
knowledged. “I’ve dealt mostly in other kinds 
of food. You are chief inspector from this out, 
and we’ll make the pay envelope five dollars.” 

“All right, boss. These two joints go back, 
and I’ll see that you get two more or they come 
off the bill. There ’s such things as poor vege- 
tables and fruit and they won’t get by me. I’ll 
keep account of the things I send back, and you 
can see what you’d lose if I wasn’t here.” 

Mrs. Jones laughed. 

“He’s smart at such things,” she declared. 
“He’s been around kitchens with me ever since 
he could walk, off and on, and he has picked 
up a lot that’s valuable.” 


236 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


‘‘He won^t lose anything if he saves me some- 
thing,^^ Bobby returned, and he went upstairs 
with a new opinion of Shorty. 

The day began most encouragingly. Passen- 
gers on the early locals purchased at the cigar 
and fruit counter. Shorty declared that the 
local business was better than the expresses had 
given, before the change. 

“IVe had ten shines this morning,’’ he told 
the manager. “What’s that mean? It means 
there ’s more people around here. What brings 
’em here all of a sudden? I dunno, do you, 
unless it’s the whooping up we’re domg?” 

Certain it was that more people were about 
the station than formerly. Mr. Stevens noted 
it, and explained it with the remark : 

“I guess folks like to go where there’s some- 
thing doing.’’ 

There was enough “doing” when the ex- 
presses began to come in. The manager could 
view it from the entrance door. He met every 
one and directed them to seats. The cashier 
was busy all the time, and he saw how well 
pleased the customers were by her attentions. 
At two o’clock he sent her to the bank, and at 


BOBBY EXTENDS HIS BUSINESS 237 


three he left for Eochester, on the Central Di- 
vision. 

When he arrived, at half -past six o’clock, he 
was glad to hear a bell ringing. Thirty people 
left the train and went into the eating-house. 
He followed, and introduced himself to the 
cashier. 

‘H put the bell-boy on this morning,” she 
told him. heard that you were using one 
at Greenfield, and I have been expecting you. 
There are some letters for you here, and I 
imagine they are from brakemen who want to 
handle your order-blanks on the trains. The 
man on the 11.40 express came to me and asked 
if I would get him some of the blanks and he 
told me that a crowd of the boys were going 
to write. He hoped to see you when he went 
up. He said that some of the order-takers 
had made as high as a dollar and a half, yes- 
terday. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ The news got around pretty quick, ’ ’ Bobby 
commented. 

^^The business here is almost nothing,” the 
cashier continued. ‘^The bell to-day has 
brought more people off this train than have 


238 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


ever come before. We are all willing enough, 
here, but we have lacked a head.’^ 

‘^You have a good cookT^ 

She’s so good that she asked the railroad 
to reduce her pay so that she would be at liberty 
to take outside work at the homes of the rich 
people when something unusual is going on.” 

‘‘Put her back on her regular pay,” Bobby 
ordered. “It will be my fault if she isn’t kept 
busy. ’ ’ 

“We have all been expecting our discharge 
for a long time,” the cashier said. “For, 
goodness knows, nothing but a railroad could 
keep this up in the way it was going. So we are 
looking to you almost as if you were a life- 
saver. ’ ’ 

“If the system works as it has at Greenfield, 
you’re saved, already,” Bobby answered. 

“I can get this place in working shape in 
two days,” he reflected, as he walked up the 
platform outside. “Burlington will be ready 
for me by that time. I’ll appoint agents to- 
morrow.” 

He met the trainmen the next day, on their 
trains, and explained the blanks and the com- 
mission. The following morning he had the 


BOBBY EXTENDS HIS BUSINESS 239 


satisfaction of seeing business commence as it 
bad at Greenfield. At night the place had taken 
in eighty-two dollars. 

him only a hoy,” remarked the cook, 
who had stolen a look at the new manager 
through the serving-slide. ^^He’s given me 
a hustle such as I never had before in Eochester 
depot.” 

Bobby laughed with the others. 

‘‘I hope I’ll be able to keep you from show- 
ing the rich folks how to get up a dinner,” he 
called back. 

‘^The receipts of to-day are what has been 
considered a good week’s work here,” the cash- 
ier told him. Bobby replied ; 

^‘I’ll drop things now, and you keep the sys- 
tem working. Pay the trainmen for their slips 
as soon as you duplicate them in orders served. 
For some time those men will be our greatest 
business-getters, and the quicker they get their 
money the better they will work.” 

He was interrupted by a ring at the telephone. 
The cashier repeated a message for him. 

‘‘Greenfield says that there are several let- 
ters for you at Thorndike.” 

“I wouldn’t wonder if the trainmen have got 


240 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


a tip on Burlington station,’’ the new manager 
said. ^ ‘ If it is so I can begin the work on that 
line, the other end first. ’ ’ 

Bobby went home that night on the trolley 
road from Brandford. The restaurant at 
Greenfield was dark when he passed through 
there, and even Mr. Bradbury had closed his 
store when he got to Thorndike. He caught a 
ride from a farmer who was going out past his 
home, and surprised his father and mother as 
they were shutting up for the night. The busi- 
ness of retiring was postponed. Instead, Mrs. 
Hawley got a lunch. 

He told what he had done to interested lis- 
teners. 

‘‘Joe’s range has come,” his mother informed 
him. “Mr. Henderson was here to-day and he 
laughed when he spoke of how you have started 
up Greenfield.” 

“Joe’s made arrangements with two college 
boys to handle the pond-lily business next sum- 
mer,” Mr. Hawley said. “They are to gather 
the lilies and work your business here and at 
Marshfield. They pay one-half of what they re- 
ceive for the exclusive right. Joe figures that 
they will pay about six dollars a day.” 


BOBBY EXTENDS HIS BUSINESS 241 


^^And without any work on our part,’^ Bobby 
exclaimed. ^‘That Joe is a wonder.’^ 

‘‘And Mr. Henderson thinks he can hold the 
trains here a little longer, if the business should 
warrant it,’’ Mrs. Hawley broke in. 

“Well,” exclaimed the boy, “it looks as if 
things were coming our way pretty fast. I’ve 
got the finest cashier at Greenfield you ever 
heard of. I can leave there any time, and she’ll 
take care of things.” 

Joe also was of the opinion that matters 
were progressing well with the firm, when the 
boys talked things over next morning. He ex- 
plained to his partner every feature of his im- 
provements and when Bobby started for Bur- 
lington his courage was high because of the 
success which was sure to come to the restau- 
rant in, which he was an owner. 


CHAPTEE XXIII 


Mr. Bradbury tells Joe his mother’s story, and 
Joe writes a letter to Dick. 

But Joe’s mother looked with anxiety on the 
many things that Joe was doing about the res- 
taurant, 

‘^It is such a lot of money that you are spend- 
ing,” she protested. ‘‘You are even getting 
machinery to beat eggs with.” 

“And I’m going to put in an electric fan to 
keep you cool while you are at work. ’ ’ 

“You think too much about me. You do, 
really. ’ ’ 

“Oh, I’m not the one that thought that out,” 
was the answer. “Dick wrote that it would be 
a good idea. What Dick doesn’t know isn’t 
worth knowing.” 

The mother said not a word. She was very 
thoughtful. It was the quiet time before the 
noon expresses, and Joe had come in to chat 
with her, as he always, did. Some customers 
entered and he waited on them, leaving her to 
242 


JOE WRITES TO DICK 


243 


her musings. After a while he came again, and 
patting his arm affectionately about her, said: 

‘^You don’t look like a woman that’s getting 
very rich.” 

She was still silent, and he continued: 

What’s it all about. Mother.” 

‘‘Are we doing very well?” she asked him, 
wistfully. 

“We’re making more than twice as much a 
week as we were before we bought in, ’ ’ was the 
answer. 

“There’s something I ought to tell you, Joe.” 

“Something about you, or me?” 

“It concerns both. You are almost eighteen, 
and ought to be told. You know your father 
left us the home, but there is a mortgage 
that has never been paid and I do not know who 
holds it. Three years ago I had saved the 
interest money and you became sick and I had 
to pay it to the doctor. The man who held the 
mortgage said that I must pay, or the place 
would he sold, hut I was not forced to leave. 
Later I learned that some one had bought the 
mortgage. I have been to the town hall, but 
there is no record of a change in the holder of 
the mortgage. If we are doing so well I would 


244 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

like to pay a little every month and then we 
would own the house, after a timeP^ 

Joe had followed her in astonishment. 

^‘And you have been worrying all alone about 
this,’’ he said. ‘^I’ll find out all about it and 
we can begin to pay on it. We are going to 
do much more business at the restaurant when 
we can give full dinners, as Bobby does. That 
will be in about two weeks.” 

‘‘I sometimes think that Mr. Hawley has the 
mortgage,” his mother continued, ‘‘and I 
thought further, that knowing we could not pay 
on it he was willing to wait until we could. ’ ’ 
“I’ll know all about it in a little while,” Joe 
declared. “I’U go to Mr. Bradbury and say 
that I want to do something on the mortgage 
and that I can’t begin until I know who’s got 
it. He’ll tell me. How much is itl” 

“It’s a thousand dollars. We have five hun- 
dred in the house, because it is worth seven- 
teen hundred dollars, and the three years’ in- 
terest and the taxes would allow us the five 
hundred if it was sold. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Then we would not have any home — ” 

“But we could hire one, and we would not be 
in any one’s debt.” 


JOE WRITES TO DICK 


245 


“Now that’s where you’re wrong, Mother.” 
Joe was back to his natural, cheerful way of 
looking at things. “Dick says that money 
should be made to earn money. We have five 
hundred dollars. The interest on one thousand 
dollars is sixty dollars a year. We couldn’t 
hire any house for that money. I ’ll find out who 
holds the mortgage, and we ’ll begin to cut some- 
thing oft it right away. I’m going to draw 
fifteen dollars a week from the pond lilies for 
three months, this year. That’s a hundred and 
eighty dollars. Suppose I put it all into the 
mortgage and cut otf a fifth, almost T’ 

The hopeful atmosphere soon influenced the 
mother and she was laughing with the boy, who 
declared that he never imagined they were so 
rich. 

“I’ll have to tell this to Dick in my next 
letter,” he declared. 

“No, don’t,” she urged. “He oughtn’t to 
know all our business.” 

“I guess he will, though,” he insisted. 
“Dick’s the finest man I ever knew. I’d like 
to have something that he wanted very much. 
He could have it.” 

“Could he?” the mother’s voice seemed sud- 


246 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


denly very faint, but Joe was away with his 
workmen in the new cook-house. 

Joe went over to the grocery store after the 
day’s rush was over. Mr. Bradbury came to 
meet him, a smile on his time-bronzed face. 

‘^Well,” was the salutation, ^4t looks good to 
see you walking around as if you never had a 
lame day in your life. Be careful of the foot, 
though. You know the doctor said you could 
have a set-back. Don’t give you any pain at 
all now, does iti” 

^‘It feels fine,” Joe returned, ‘‘but it never 
feels finer than when it has carried me to the 
man who started me off to have it fixed up. ’ ’ 

“Tut, tut!” came quickly from the old man. 
“If I did, though, I’m glad of it.” 

“I came over to ask you about our mortgage.” 
The statement came so abruptly that it made 
the grocer stare. He clasped his hands behind 
his back. He was not a handsome man, but to 
Joe he was one of the wonderful creations. 
The boy did not see the baggy trousers, the 
knotted-veined, work-marked hands, the dilapi- 
dated straw hat — he only saw the kindly eyes, 
and he knew the almost childishly tender heart. 

“Mother told me about it to-day,” he con- 


JOE WRITES TO DICK 


247 


tinued. ‘‘She says that we own the house, all 
but the mortgage and interest, and she don’t 
know who holds that. The interest hasn’t been 
paid for three years, so she thinks that some 
one who wants to save us trouble has it. I 
knew you could tell me about it. We can pay 
up something, now.” 

“Did you ever think of being insured, Joe?” 
the grocer asked. 

Joe knew that the change of subject was in- 
tended, but he answered : 

“No, sir.” 

“Well, I would. You’re eighteen, and you 
can get into a good company, reasonable. You 
take a twenty-year endowment for two thou- 
sand and you’ll have the two thousand coming 
to you when you are thirty-eight. If you die 
before, your mother gets the money immedi- 
ately. Everybody ought to think seriously on 
insurance. It’s a duty.” 

Every word went in. Joe understood, and 
resolved, right there — ^but he came for another 
purpose. 

“I’ll he insured,” he said, “but I want to 
know about the mortgage. You think I should 
begin to take care of it, don’t you?” 


248 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


The grocer looked down on him but did not 
answer. 

When she told me that some one had bought 
it away from the man who wanted to sell the 
house to get the mortgage money, I thought it 
must be Mr. Hawley. Was itr^ 

The old man shook his head. 

“WRo was itf the boy persisted. 

‘‘Do you know what a mortgage means, 
Joe?’’ The second evasion was so apparent 
that Joe thought the grocer himself must hold 
the debt. 

“I suppose it’s a sort of note like I gave 
Dick when he let me have the money to buy 
into the business with.” 

“Well, a mortgage,” went on Mr. Bradbury, 
“is a lien on the property, and it comes ahead 
of everything else in a settlement of an estate. 
It’s a good thing if you are able to take care 
of it. It’s a fine thing, then, for you can put 
the money to use somewhere else and make 
more out of it than the interest on the mort- 
gage; but if you can’t pay, it’s an awful bad 
thing to have around. It can cause a lot of 
worry before it finally sells the property out to 
satisfy itself.” 


JOB WRITES TO DICK 


249 


During the speech the grocer had swung him- 
self forward and back on his toes and heels, 
his hands still clasped behind him. Now he 
stopped as if considering something else. Joe 
asked him: 

‘‘Have you got the mortgage, Mr. Brad- 
bury?'' 

“No," with another shake of his head, then 
in a quicker than usual enunciation, “come into 
the office, boy. I guess I'll tell you a story." 

Joe followed, wondering. The grocer mo- 
tioned him to a seat, and stood where he could 
see the store through the wdndow. 

“I guess you ought to know this, Joe," he 
began. “You're eighteen, and it won't hurt 
you to know. I've got to go back a long time 
— to tell it." 

“It's about the mortgage?" Joe interrupted. 

“Yes — and about other things. When your 
mother was your age she was the prettiest, 
most popular girl in these parts." 

“She's pretty now," Joe declared, but very 
softly. 

‘ ‘ She is. And she 's good and patient. Well, 
she was school teacher here, and three men 
thought a lot of her. One was your father. 


250 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


the other was John Douglass (you don^t know 
him), and the other — was my Dick.^’ 

^^DickT’ the boy^s eyes were very wide, and 
his face was flushed. ‘^Is that why he’s been 
so good to meT’ 

^‘Dick was just as you know him now, quick 
to think and act — earnest, with not much fun, 
or softness in him ; but he thought an awful lot 
of your mother if he didn’t have the right way 
to show it. One night he told her he wanted 
her to marry him. He did not ask her, he told 
her. If she had known him as I did she would 
have known that that was the only way he knew 
how to ask her, but she didn’t like the way he 
went about it, and she said ‘no’ to him. That 
evening your father asked her. He was a free- 
hearted, nice-looking man, and he did know how 
to do such things, and she said ‘yes.’ ” 

Joe waited. The grocer went on. 

“There were never two madder men around 
here than John Douglass and my Dick when the 
news got out. Your father told it over at the 
engine house, and I had a time with Dick that 
night. He went away from here a week after, 
but John Douglass stayed around, and tried to 
make things uncomfortable for your mother. 


JOE WRITES TO DICK 


251 


‘‘Your grandfather built the house you live 
in and gave it to your father. John Douglass 
belonged to a well-to-do family and always had 
money, and he became your father’s friend — 
but he was a bad friend. He got your father 
to borrow of him, and a year after the marriage, 
and only a few weeks before you were born, 
your father gave a mortgage on the house to 
Douglass. Then your father was killed.” 

Joe’s head had fallen. The old man hesi- 
tated, but a minute later continued : 

“Your mother showed what she was made of. 
She tried to get her school back, but the Doug- 
lass family stopped that. She turned to sew- 
ing, and took private scholars, and she paid 
the mortgage interest promptly. One day she 
came in here and asked me if I would carry 
her interest money to Douglass. She said she 
was afraid of him. I did the business for her 
two years ; then you got the sick spell and she 
fell behind. 

“That was Douglass’s chance. He threat- 
ened to foreclose if she did not marry him. Mr. 
Hawley and I paid the interest once and John 
Douglass threatened us for what he called in- 
terfering. All this time my Dick was making 


252 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


money out west. I never saw a man make 
money as he did. He wrote me regular, but 
he never asked about any one here. He was 
what is called an embittered man with no other 
motive than to make money. He built up a 
great hardware business, became the president 
of a bank, a director in a railroad, and a big 
owner of real estate. He did it all in twelve 
years, then he went to Europe. Seems as 
though he could not find anything more to get, 
but he could not stay idle. 

‘Hn all this time I never saw him once, but 
when he was going to Europe he asked me to 
bring his mother to Boston to see him off. We 
went down, and he offered to delay his trip and 
take us both with him, but my wife was afraid 
of the water and I couldn^t leave the business; 
but we had a lot of satisfaction in being with 
him those three days. It put ten years on his 
mother’s life. She talks about the things Dick 
showed her a sight, even now. 

^^One day, down in Boston, I told him how 
John Douglass was bothering your mother. 
He sat like a stone man all through it, then he 
became nervous, uneasy. He telegraphed half 
a dozen times that afternoon. He couldn’t do 


JOE WRITES TO DICK 


253 


enough for us, but he was stirred up about 
something, we could see that. 

‘ ^ The day he sailed he gave me a check to buy 
the mortgage, and a sealed letter which, he 
said, would make John sell, quick enough. He 
paid up the interest that John Hawley and I 
had advanced; then he went away and was 
gone two years.’’ 

Joe was crying. The picture of the lonely 
man, though with everything save one which 
could make life beautiful, was very vividly be- 
fore him. The one thing was his own mother. 

‘H’d like to see Dick, right now,” sobbed the 
boy. 

‘H would, too,” the grocer said. ^‘What 
would you do?” 

‘H would tell him how sorry I am for him, 
and I would say that we would begin to pay the 
mortgage. ’ ’ 

‘‘Perhaps he don’t want it paid,” suggested 
the old man. 

“You think that — ” quickly. 

“Perhaps he likes to hold this chance to pro- 
tect her, though she never gave him the right. 
I was glad that he took to you as he did. I 
know that he thinks a lot of you — ” 


254 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


‘‘He is coming on just as soon as I get the 
dinner-order service working. He said he 
would in his last letter.’’ 

“Oh, that’s why he’s coming,” and the gro- 
cer’s laugh drove the atmosphere of sadness 
from the office. “I thought he was coming, 
maybe, to see his mother and me. ’ ’ 

“Oh, he is, of course, but he will look over 
the business, too. He has some money in it.” 
Then after a minute’s silent thoughtfulness, 
“Do you think he wants to see my mother, 
too!” 

“Well, Joe, if I knew a man who had wanted 
a woman so hard for nineteen years that he 
hasn’t seen any other woman who he thought 
was as good as she is, I’d surely calc ’late he’d 
like to have a look at that one. ’ ’ 

Joe told his mother that evening that Mr, 
Bradbury had the mortgage, but he did not 
specify as to individuality. He told her that 
she must not worry as he had made arrange- 
ments to take care of everything. 

“It’s so nice to see you so careful of me,” 
she said. “You won’t have to tell Dick about 
it, now, will you!” 

“No,” the boy answered, and he felt himself 


JOE WRITES TO DICK 


255 


within the truth, as Dick knew about it already. 

That night he wrote to Dick from a heart full 
of gratitude, and the letter was blotted by his 
tears. In course of time that letter came to 
the beautiful home out west, and Dick read it, 
and knew that the hoy knew about the past, 
though he had kept his promise to his mother. 
Dick sat a long time with folded arms and his 
usually stern face softened, as he again read 
the last paragraph: 

‘‘You will come next week, won’t you? I’ll 
have everything ready to show you. Don’t tell 
mother what I have said in this. She does not 
know that I know, and she is afraid that I trou- 
ble you by writing so much. I guess she’s 
ashamed about your knowing.” 


CHAPTEE XXIV 


Bobby works for a trade discount and gets it. The 

LAWN PARTY. A GIRL AND A VIOLIN. 

Bobby had correctly surmised the subject of 
the letters which awaited him at Burlington, and 
his work at that station was quickly over. 

He arranged his time so that on Mondays and 
Thursdays he would he at Eochester, on Tues- 
days and Fridays at Burlington, and he had 
Wednesdays and Saturdays at Greenfield. 
This plan made it possible for him to run over 
to Thorndike any afternoon, when Joe might 
want to consult with him. 

All his stations were running profitably and 
smoothly. His purchases of provisions were 
quite large and he had decided, that as he was 
no longer working to revive dying proposi- 
tions he must find out how a paying business 
could be improved, and his thoughts had gone 
toward getting a discount on his purchases. 
His several requests for a lower rate had re- 
ceived no attention, and at last he had asked 
256 


A GIRL AND A VIOLIN 


257 


for an appointment with, the manager. The 
unusual time of six-thirty in the evening had 
been set for the following Wednesday. 

At Greenfield, Shorty had achieved much per- 
sonal distinction. The midnight express was 
being served entirely through the boy’s plan- 
ning. The telegraph operator was willing to 
earn an extra dollar a night, by counter-tend- 
ing. Shorty put in one night in waking up the 
late express and getting the sleepy passengers 
into the restaurant, and the plan worked so 
well that the order went out from Boston, that 
all trainmen would call ^‘Ten minutes’ stop for 
refreshments” on the 2.10 a. m. Boston Express 
until further notice. 

‘^You’ll be manager of a restaurant some 
day,” Bobby told the boy. 

“Who, me?” was Shorty’s retort; “you’re 
gulfing me. I’ll watch you sharp, all the same. 
I’ll get pointers, so if anything of that sort 
should come floating my way I could clutch hold 
of it and make a ’rastle to keep on. ’ ’ 

From a very uncertain income. Shorty was 
receiving seven dollars from the road. His 
services as inspector of provisions were so valu- 
able that they could not be slighted. He did no 


258 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


shoe-blacking, but hired a boy from whom he 
realized between two and three dollars a week. 

Bobby was talking with him on the afternoon 
of the appointment with the manager of the pro- 
vision house. 

‘‘They ^11 kick about some of the things com- 
ing back,’’ remarked the inspector, “but I have 
never sent any big piece back without showing 
it first to mother.” 

“Then I have two inspectors,” Bobby re- 
plied, laughing. “I think the fact that we send 
stutf back will make them look out and give us 
the good things the first time. ’ ’ 

“Well, I picked up something that was valu- 
able to you when I was chasing my mother 
’round the kitchen when I was a kid, didn’t I? 
Say, I give most of my money to my mother. 
She had a hustle a-carrying me along before I 
could earn anything. She’s a good one, she is. 
She ’s told me all along to do everything I could 
for you and you’d find it out and give me a 
push, and it’s turned out right. I guess what 
I’d picked up nosing ’round was worth some- 
thing to you that day you came poking ’round 
here first!” 

“I got it all out of you,” Bobby admitted. 


A GIRL AND A VIOLIN 


259 


‘‘There wasn’t any further need of my poking 
around when you showed me engineers eating 
at the ‘Burnside.’ That night at the theater 
was my first experience, and I enjoyed it, all 
right. ’ ’ 

“The first time you’d been to a show!” 

“A show like that, in a regular theater.” 

“Well, I swanny! And you was a ‘Rube,’ 
and here was me a thinking that you’d seen all 
over. ’ ’ 

“I was the greenest chap you ever steered 
around. ’ ’ 

“That shows what eddication does for a fel- 
low. I was stuck on the style you put on, and 
I knew more about what was doing all the time. 
I was giving away things without knowin’ they 
was valu’ble. That’s ’cause I never went to 
school long ’nough to know how to get anythin’ 
out of what I do know.” 

“Well, Shorty,” Bobby was trying to give 
consolation, “I guess I’ve learned as much by 
keeping my eyes open as in any other way.” 

“Do you think I could run a restaurant, seein’ 
I ain’t been to school much!” 

“You know Abe Lincoln didn’t get much 
schooling. He got to be a pretty big man. He 


260 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


studied when lie was alone, instead of playing 
pool, though.’^ 

Shorty winced over this plain thrust. Pool 
was his favorite recreation, and he was expert 
at it. 

‘‘I might make money on matches, if I was 
a good ^nough pool player.’’ 

“Yes, you might,” Bobby allowed, “but 
you’re sure to make money if you put the time 
you use pool-practising into study. Why don’t 
you take up night school? Many a man has 
made something of himself at a night school.” 

“Couldn’t do it. The fellers would guy the 
life out of me if I did.” 

“Well, if you are afraid enough of being 
guyed to prevent being something different than 
the fellows who guy, when you are five years 
older, you must be pretty scared of being 
guyed.” 

Shorty thought this over. 

“They’d put me in with the little fellers, 
wouldn’t they? I don’t know much.” 

“Suppose they did. That oughtn’t to 
frighten you. If you’re going to lie down when 
such a little thing as that comes up, you won’t 
get anywhere. I’ll risk that if you go in and 


A GIRL AND A VIOLIN 


261 


dig, you’ll get away from the little fellows, all 
right. ’ ’ 

‘‘Well, say,” suddenly thromng aside his in- 
decision, “I’ll take a try at it, right oif. It’ll 
tickle my mother when she hears of it. ’ ’ 

“It’ll be hard work and seem pretty slow, at 
first, but you can win in it.” 

Another member of his force at Greenfield 
that claimed Bobby’s interest was his cashier. 
Outside of her methodical work she was a very 
attractive person. Bobby had to acknowledge 
that as he watched her sitting at her desk on 
the day he gave Shorty the advice about at- 
tending night school. More than one of her 
customers endeavored to engage her in conver- 
sation, but she simply answered their questions, 
paying no attention whatever to their insinua- 
tions in regard to her personal appearance. 

Bobby walked up to the desk during one 
of the customer’s attempts to secure her at- 
tention, and heard him say: 

“There is a shrewd manager here to get a 
girl like you to take the money. A fellow would 
spend fifty cents with you at the desk where he 
wouldn’t gpend ten, if that gum-chewer was 
here.” 


262 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


Her silence made the man desist. When he 
had gone she looked about to see Bobby watch- 
ing. Her face was flushed, and her eyes held 
a tinge of anger. 

do not know why they say such things,’’ 
she declared. ‘H try to attend to my work.” 

u There are not many such customers, are 
there*?” he asked. 

‘‘Goodness, no! One is enough to make me 
frightfully nervous. When I attend to such a 
man I begin to think that I wish I could earn 
my living in some place where I would not be 
so conspicuous.” 

“I guess that you would find a fellow like 
that almost anywhere you worked, but there 
aren’t many of them, you say. If you do not 
take any more notice of them than you did of 
this one, they’ll get tired of bothering you.” 

She had stayed over the time required to 
catch her train and he reminded her of it. 

“I’m not going so early to-night,” she ex- 
plained. “I am going to play a little extra, and 
will be later in going down. ’ ’ 

They made up the cash together. 

“This is my interesting station in every 
way,” he said. “I suppose it’s because I made 


A GIRL AND A VIOLIN 


263 


the beginning here, and the others just followed 
along the lines we mapped for this place.’’ 

^‘You are having good success at Rochester 
and Burlington ! ” It was the first time she had 
spoken to him of affairs outside her immediate 
business. 

‘‘Yes. All the places are paying, and their 
business is increasing nicely. Your form of 
bookkeeping is used in all the places, and I 
know at a glance what is being done. The 
cashiers do the banking in the other places, also, 
so I am not much more than a figurehead at 
present. I’ve got to do something startling 
pretty soon, or the road will be sorry I was 
engaged for six months.” 

“Why, I did not know I was engaged for only 
six months,” she said, her eyes becoming seri- 
ous. 

“I don’t think you need to be afraid of your 
position as long as you want to hold it,” he told 
her. “A manager may go, but while the busi- 
ness is doing as well as this is, a cashier will 
be needed and no business wants to change cash- 
iers if it is satisfied with the one it has.” 

“Then — then you almost say this business is 
satisfied with me.” 


264 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


^ ^ Wholly satisfied. ’ ^ 

The girl was apparently relieved. 

do not believe that a business which has 
been made to pay so well would want to change 
managers at this time/^ she retorted, with a 
laugh. ‘‘I am quite avaricious, and would be 
sorry to lose my position. My teacher says I 
am doing well on my violin, and I suppose one 
thing which helps, is the lack of worry in having 
money enough to pay for the lessons.’^ 

‘‘YouTl get your supper here when you stop 
in town,’’ he told her. ‘‘You earn it. I don’t 
remember that you’ve been paid anything for 
your plan of bookkeeping.” 

He left her and went up town to keep his ap- 
pointment with the provision dealer. It was 
just half -past six when he was shown into the 
private office. 

‘ ‘ Sorry to get you here at such a late hour, ’ ’ 
the manager told him. “I have been away in 
the country all day and haven’t been back half 
an hour.” 

He had swung around his chair, and was 
looking the boy over. He was a large man and 
had his opinion of such a young person who 
had “insisted” on seeing the “principal.” 


A GIRL AND A VIOLIN 


265 


am the manager of the railroad restau- 
rant here/’ Bobby began. 

The large man looked him over again, and a 
smile moved his lips. He lighted a cigar and 
olfered one to his visitor. His entire attitude 
was patronizing. The interview, in his opin- 
ion, was ridiculous. 

don’t smoke,” Bobby went on. ‘H have 
come to see if I can get a lower price on meat 
from you. ’ ’ 

^‘You could have asked that of the foreman 
over the ’phone,” was the reply, and the smile 
had broadened. The big man was so accus- 
tomed to dictating that this request had brought 
the interview to the plane of foolishness. 
don’t sell meat.” 

‘‘Your foreman has been giving me goods at 
the prices you charge others. There is a differ- 
ence in my case and I wanted to see you before 
I changed my dealer. Your foreman doesn’t 
seem to want to listen to me.” 

The big man brought his brows together in 
a half scowl. 

“You can’t get meat in this town at less than 
you pay. You must be new here, or you would 
have known that. ’ ’ 


266 MK. KESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


am new here. I pay cash every day. 
That ought to be worth a discount. ’ ’ 

The manager shook his head, but he was not 
smiling. 

‘‘WeVe got only one price to everybody,’’ 
he said, decisively. ‘‘You’re at liberty to in- 
vestigate and learn if I am telling things as 
they are. I remember now, that the railroad 
has a new man here, and the business is picking 
up; hut even the railroad must conform with 
the provision conditions that are here.” 

He arose as if he considered that the inter- 
view was at an end. Something in the resolute 
expression on the boy’s face made him pro- 
ceed, with a less patronizing demeanor. 

“You’re a smart boy, undoubtedly. The 
company wouldn’t have put so young a fellow 
in charge if he wasn’t smart. I like to see 
any smart fellow succeed, but we ain’t putting 
our hand in our pocket to push you along. 
You’ve got to pay for your provisions just what 
everybody else pays. We never had a request 
for a special rate from the restaurant before.” 

“You didn’t because what was sold there 
wouldn’t amount to enough to ask for a rate on. 
I am buying three hundred dollars worth of 


A GIRL AND A VIOLIN 


267 


your goods a week and if I can^t get any con- 
sideration from you I’m going to Boston and 
put the thing up to the head of your concern.” 

He had seen the look of surprise on the large 
face as he quoted figures, and it was intensified 
as he stated his intention of going to a higher 
authority. He was at the door when the other 
called : 

‘‘What do you mean by saying you buy three 
hundred dollars worth a week?” 

“I buy for three stations, and you have 
branches in the places. I pay spot cash 
the day the goods are delivered. I have an 
interest in a fourth place. I believe your Bos- 
ton house wants the business enough to make me 
a discount for big cash orders. If it doesn’t. 
I’ll buy for all the restaurants in some other 
town. ’ ’ 

The big man was in front of the door with 
his arms folded. He was decidedly more in- 
terested than he had been. His manner was 
less arrogant. 

“Why didn’t you say you wanted the whole- 
sale rate?” he asked. “Sit down.” 

He went back to his desk and Bobby took the 
chair he pointed to. 


268 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


‘‘I told you what I wanted as soon as I had 
a chance/^ he said. 

The man was figuring. 

‘‘Three hundred a week. That’s about six- 
teen thousand a year. ’ ’ 

“Every day’s business settled on the spot,” 
Bobby put in. He knew that the situation had 
turned in his favor. “ I ’ll get the matter before 
the Boston house, and see if you want the busi- 
ness.” 

“Of course we want the busiuess. I can tell 
you that as well as Boston can. What do you 
expect to get?” 

There was an irritability in the tone which 
could have come from a consciousness that the 
situation was changed. 

“I expect to get wholesale prices. I buy to 
sell again. No retailer can get along under a 
fifteen per cent profit; the only difference be- 
tween any retailer and me is, that I pay spot 
cash. ’ ’ 

Bobby had arisen, now. He showed that he 
was willing the interview should end. He had 
not retracted from his position of taking the 
matter to higher authority. The big man made 
a condition. 


A GIRL AND A VIOLIN 


269 


You ’ll put the order for the three places 
through the Greenfield branch, and have us take 
care of the delivery?” 

‘‘Yes.” 

“I’ll give you twelve and a half per cent on 
everything. ’ ’ 

“I’ll accept that for a month. If either is 
dissatisfied at the end of that time, we’ll stop 
the arrangement.” 

“You want more?” 

“I want as much as any other customer that 
you ’ve got, ’ ’ Bobby returned. 

“Twelve and a half per cent off is the best 
we do.” 

“If I find another dealer who is getting better 
than that you’ll come down?” 

“I’ll give you fiifteen per cent and we’ll have 
no tail to it,” was the final concession, in a 
growl. 

“All right,” Bobby agreed. “I’ll put in the 
order for all three places to-morrow, and get 
around to the Thorndike stand as soon as pos- 
sible.” 

He was very much satisfied, as he walked 
toward his hotel, thinking over the deal. The 
cut nearly paid for his own salary twice over. 


270 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

He knew that Joe would be pleased to bring the 
Thorndike business into the arrangement. The 
gain there was an unsettled matter until the 
order-blank system was put to the test, but it 
would be something. 

He ate his dinner and started for a stroll 
about the city. When passing a church a 
lighted lawn and a gathering of people attracted 
his attention, and stopping he saw a banner 
inviting the public to a lawn party and concert. 
He went in. 

A man whom he had seen at the hotel came 
to him, and soon he was being introduced to 
many people. He had never cared for such 
entertainment at home, but he found himself 
enjoying this experience, and he readily fol- 
lowed the company indoors when the beginning 
of the concert was announced. There were pro- 
grams but he had not secured one, consequently 
he was not prepared, after hearing a song and 
a selection on the piano, to see his cashier come 
forward for the third number with her violin. 

A feeling of displeasure crossed over him; 
then he wondered at it. She was dressed in 
white, a slip of a girl, with a dainty head pret- 
tily poised. She was more than attractive. 



A SLIP OF A GIKL, WITH A DAINTY HEAD PRETTILY POISED 

Page 270. 





A GIRL AND A VIOLIN 


271 


He looked about and saw that the attention of 
everybody was taken by her, still she was not 
ill at ease. He was sure that he could not have 
stood there, apparently so unconcerned. 

When she began to play he had a pride in 
her. He had never heard any violin-playing 
beyond what was done at the country gather- 
ings at Thorndike, and he was at first surprised 
that such tones could be produced. When the 
playing ceased, a storm of applause followed, 
but he did not join in it. He was wondering 
at her composure. 

She played again and it seemed that every 
part of him was throbbing with a new and 
a strange sensation — a gladness for her, and be- 
cause he knew her. The house was very still, 
as if anxious that a note should not be lost, and 
every eye was on her. Her pretty head lay 
affectionately on the instrument, and her form 
moved in time to her music. A thrill rushed 
through him as he thought that he must know 
her better than any other person in the large 
company — a thrill of delight. 

When she did not return in response to the 
second applause, he looked at his watch and 
reckoned that as it was nine o’clock she was 


272 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


intending to take tlie nine-thirty to her home, 
and he went out to see if he could meet her. 
He found a rear entrance and waited there. 
Other men were also waiting, and one was the 
fellow who had that day tried to engage Miss 
Chadwick in conversation as she was acting as 
cashier at the restaurant. 

When she appeared a lady walked with her, 
and he was glad of it, though the others wait- 
ing moved away. He went up to her and she 
appeared surprised, hut she introduced him to 
her companion, her mother. 

heard you play and thought I would come 
to see you and tell you how much I liked it,’’ 
he began. 

think it really strange that you should 
have happened in there,” she replied after he 
had told of his accidental visit to the lawn 
party. 

He said that if they would not object he would 
like to go to the train with them, and they 
started away together, he carrying the violin 
which had given such sweet music. He talked 
so much of her success at the concert that her 
mother invited him to call at their home in 
Compton, when he had leisure, and a parlor con- 


A GIRL AND A VIOLIN 


273 


cert would be given for bis especial benefit. 

After the train had pulled away he went to 
the hotel. That night his dreams were not of 
profits and expenses, but of a slight girl in 
white, and a sweet-toned violin. 


CHAPTER XXV 

The working op the ‘ ‘ system ’ ’ at Thorndike. 

The expert from the Boston house which had 
furnished the hotel range for Thorndike res- 
taurant was to make a capacity test on the occa- 
sion of the initiation of the ‘‘train-order^^ 
blanlis for that division. His ovens contained 
ten large fowls, thirty pies and forty loaves of 
bread. A leg of lamb, a roast of beef, and an- 
other of pork were sputtering away. On top 
of the range twelve kettles of vegetables were 
boiling. The six receptacles for keeping food 
warm were empty. Joe’s mother viewed it all 
in dismay. 

“What a quantity of food!” she faintly re- 
monstrated. 

“Not a perishable thing,” Bobby assured 
her. 

“But you do not expect that it will be eaten 
to-day?” very skeptical. 

“That’s according to how far your reputa- 
tion as a cook has gone,” Joe told her. 

274 


THE “SYSTEM” AT THORNDIKE 275 


The expert explained the broilers. 

‘^You can have twelve double steaks in 
twelve minutes. As soon as your order comes 
in you arrange twenty-four steaks, and twelve 
minutes before the train is due, you put in the 
twenty-four. When the train stops, take the 
first out and put in a second twenty-four. In 
five minutes after your customers are seated 
you have served forty-eight steaks. You can’t 
heat that I guess.” 

Bobby had stopped at home to see the start 
of the ‘‘system” and the elder Hawleys, with 
Mr. Bradbury, were also spectators. As the 
great amount of food was inspected, the spirits 
of the investigators flagged. 

“Pretty big apparatus for Thornton,” Mr. 
Bradbury mused, as he shook his head. 
“You’ve got to get the business gauged, 
though. ’ ’ 

Even Bobby was skeptical. He went around 
with his hands in his pockets, but he smiled 
whenever he saw Joe looking in his direction. 
He wanted to give his partner all the cheer 
possible. 

Joe’s mother was dreadfully anxious. Joe 
saw it and whispered : 


276 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


an Lour from now, think how dubious you 
are looking without any reason for it.’^ 

‘^But Joe, dear, I know just how hopeful 
you are, hut just think of the quantity of 
food.’’ 

The telephone bell rang. Bobby, unable to 
curb his anxious excitement, rushed toward it. 
A minute of intense silence followed. They 
all looked at the telephone, then Bobby gave a 
roar: 

Sixty chicken dinners — twelve roast beef — 
ten roast lamb — twenty-eight steaks.” 

Joe had taken it down. 

‘‘There it is,” he called, giving the slip to 
his astounded mother. “You’ve got plenty of 
time. We must seat a hundred and ten people, 
and there’s another train to be heard from. 
Come, Bobby. Give me a lift here.” 

Bobby followed him out of doors. 

“We’ll get Mr. Bradbury’s team and lug the 
chairs and tables from the church vestry,” he 
explained. “Even the table-cloths are there 
from the supper they had last week.” 

It became apparent that Joe was going to 
feed “five hundred” if so many applied, and 
Mt. Hawley and Mr. Bradbury began to make 


THE ‘‘SYSTEM’’ AT THORNDIKE 277 


trips to the vestry. Once Joe came in, and he 
had a woman by the arm. 

^‘Here’s Mrs. Maloney, Mother,’^ he called. 
“She ^11 help you.’’ 

It seemed that this was the information for 
the minute. Mrs. Maloney was an experienced 
cook, as steady as the pendulum of a clock, 
and Joe’s mother soon caught her atmosphere, 
and was laughing as heartily as any of them. 

The second train-order did not cause such 
consternation. The run was less than that of 
the down express. Seventy-two seats were 
called for by it. 

Thorndike station had the appearance ,of 
“Cattle Show” week as the passengers 
swarmed off the trains that day. Five minutes 
later the great crowd was eating and the scene 
resembled one of the jolliest dinner parties 
imaginable. Mr. and Mrs. Hawley, with Bobby 
and Joe, waited on the tables, and even Mr. 
Bradbury went over to the store to get a collar 
and necktie and a black alpaca coat so that he 
would be presentable while working in the 
kitchen. Many a traveler received additional 
enjoyment from his noonday meal as he caught 
a glance at the busy old man. 


278 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

When the first rush was over, Bobby got Mr. 
Henderson on the telephone and told of the 
situation. In a few minutes the telegraph oper- 
ator reported orders to hold both expresses 
twenty minutes instead of twelve; then people 
began to eat for the taste of the food rather 
than to fill a void in the quickest time. 

Joe’s mother was the happiest person in the 
station. As she received the money, almost 
every one had something pleasant to say to her. 
If there were any foolish young men in that 
company they did not expose their affliction by 
annoying her. WHien the trains pulled out, 
passengers of one waved their hands to those 
of the other, as if they were old acquaintances. 
It was like the breaking up of a picnic. Nothing 
hut praise had been spoken of the restaurant. 

Joe and Bobby helped Joe’s mother count 
the cash. 

hundred and fourteen dollars,” Joe fi- 
nally announced to the waiting friends. 

The range expert was jubilant. 

Just give me the story of this day, and my 
house won’t ask for any other reconnnenda- 
tion, ’ ’ he declared. 

‘^You don’t expect to keep this up, Joef” 


THE “SYSTEM” AT THORNDIKE 279 

Mr. Bradbury suggested. He had been quite 
stilled by amazement. 

Unless you think this was only a reception 
to mother, I do,^’ Joe insisted. ‘‘Anyway, 
we ’U keep the church tables here for a time, and 
Mrs. Maloney may bring her two daughters in 
to-morrow to take full charge in the kitchen. 
Mother has built the business and she can re- 
tire from hard work. She must come down 
and see if everything is mixed right, then look 
after the money. ITl have four waitresses in 
to-morrow and we T1 get to work as if this were 
to be the regular thing.’’ 

“He has been so sure of a great success here 
to-day that, somehow, T haven’t had much 
doubt,” Mrs. Hawley remarked. 

Of course, now that it had turned out so well, 
everybody was feeling very fine. In fact, 
everybody was almost ready to say they were 
sure it would be a big success, but Mr. Brad- 
bury expressed the^ final opinion : 

‘ ‘ He ’s done something we- didn ’t know about, 
that’s sure. Neither he nor anybody else had 
any right to figure on such a rush. What did 
you do, Joe?” 

“Well,” laughed happy Joe, “I thought a 


280 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


little. Dick says it pays better than any other 
kind of work.’^ 

‘‘Anything Dick says will get Joe’s full at- 
tention,” interrupted Mrs. Hawley. “If I had 
written down all the wise advice I have heard 
that man give, through Joe, I would never have 
to think for myself again.” 

She laughed as she said it, and looked at Joe’s 
mother. Joe went on: 

“I thought I had the luck with me because 
the trains get here just at dinner time, so I 
went to work to help them get hungry. I had 
this printed”: 

Mr. Hawley took the folder the boy held out 
and read: 

Passengers — 

There is no dining-car on this train, but at Bobby and 
Joe’s restaurant in Thorndike railroad station there will be 
served to-day, and every day hereafter, a first-class dinner 
at noon, when the train arrives. 

The best of food and service is guaranteed. We solicit 
your order for a glass of milk, or a sirloin steak. 

Some of our prices. 


Full chicken dinner, vegetables and coffee 65 cts. 

Roast beef “ 55 

Roast lamb “ 55 “ 

Roast pork “ 55 

Special sirloin steak, French fried potatoes 75 “ 


THE ‘‘SYSTEM’^ AT THORNDIKE 281 

Trainmen will solicit your order, giving you an order- 
blank which can be presented at the restaurant and will 
secure the dinner you want. The orders will be telephoned 
in an hour before the arrival of the train and the dinner 
will be served within two minutes after the arrival. 

BOBBY AND JOE'S 

‘ ‘I had the trainmen deliver these through the 
train at ten o’clock,’’ went on Joe, ^Hhen they 
were to let the folder work a while. If a man 
reads about roast beef, even if he isn’t hungry 
it’s liable to make him hungry. It worked out 
all right, and the trainmen say that when they 
went hack for orders they were stopped at al- 
most every seat.” 

‘‘You’ve improved on the ‘system,’ ” de- 
clared Bobby. “I’ll use the plan on some of 
my trains.” 

Joe turned to the company, and said: 

“Mother would invite you to dinner but we 
haven’t anything to eat.” 

There was a laugh at the expense of the 
mother, who had only a little while before 
viewed her well-stocked larder with such appre- 
hension. 

They had a dinner, however, even if it did 
consist of a mixture. Bobby told of the dis- 
count he was getting on his provisions. 


282 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

^‘If we had bought for Thorndike to-day, at 
my new rate, we would be fourteen dollars more 
to the good,’’ he said. “Shall I put in another 
order of the same kind to-morrow?” 

“Sure,” Joe answered. “We’re going to do 
this same kind of business every day.” 

Bobby telephoned the order to Greenfield and 
its Thorndike branch began delivering in an 
hour. The expert gave Mrs. Maloney a couple 
of hours ’ explanation on the cooking apparatus, 
and before night everything was in readiness to 
handle whatever crowd came on the morrow. 
Mrs. Maloney’s daughters found two other 
girls to wait on the table with them. Every- 
thing was in shape to continue business on the 
new basis when Joe took his mother home. 


CHAPTEE XXVI 
Joe gives his opinion on home matters. 

That evening Joe worked as usual on his ac- 
counts, but his mother sewed. Occasionally he 
looked over at her with pride in his eyes. Fi- 
nally he said : 

^‘Now are you satisfied to let me manage the 
business partT’ 

^^I^m afraid I am very foolish, Joe,” she 
answered, ‘^hut I do not have the courage I had 
when you were little. I think it is because you 
are doing so much. I am more afraid that 
you will fail, than I was for myself. I have 
been used to thinking of the necessities — the 
things I must have. That is why I got behind 
on the mortgage. If our home was sold, I could 
not help it, and sometimes I wanted it sold, for 
that would give me something out of it. Since 
you have done the planning I haven T under- 
stood you, but it has given me a good rest.” 

^ ^ My plans are Dick ’s plans, you know. That 
283 


284 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


is why I am so sure of them. Dick could not 
fail.’’ 

She was so still for such a long time, though 
she did not stop in her sewing, that he stole 
a glance at her, then watched her openly. She 
was absorbed in the work, or in her thought. 
After a while he said : 

want you to fix your hair as you did for 
my birthday — the way you used to wear it. ’ ’ 

He read the remonstrance in her upward look, 
and went on : 

‘‘And I want you to wear your light dress. 
You haven’t any more cooking to do and you 
must always look nice.” 

“You don’t think I look nice enough?” 

“Not so nice as you can look.” 

She was quiet another long time. He thought 
that perhaps hi^. last remark had hurt her, and 
he told her : 

“You know that I think I have the loveKest 
mother in the world, and I want others to 
think so, too.” 

She could not help a laugh, but she said : 

“You shouldn’t talk so. If you think I am 
a good mother I am not concerned about what 
others think. You know that is my best dress. ’ ’ 


JOE GIVES HIS OPINION 


285 


get you another best one. We do not 
have to* get along with one best dress, any 
more.” 

^^The business might not keep up.” 

^‘It will. I’m working under Dick’s plans. 
It will do well to-morrow and next day and the 
next, until we begin to neglect it. I’m going to 
see that you have nice things, hereafter. Nice 
clothes and anything else you like. ’ ’ 

He had come over to her now, and while his 
eyes, so like hers, were serious, his mouth 
smiled. 

‘^Will you be ready for the interest on the 
mortgage?” she asked him. Her eyes were 
serious, too. 

‘H am ready for it any time,” he assured her. 
suppose Dick, Mr. Bradbury’s son, knows 
about the mortgage?” 

‘‘It’s Dick who holds it.” 

“Why, Joe,” turning with a furious flush, 
“you did not tell me so.” 

“Yes, I did. I said Mr. Bradbury had it, 
didn’t I?” innocently. 

“But you always mean Mr. Bradbury, here, 
when you say that. ’ ’ There was a touch of irri- 
tation in her tone. 


286 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


‘ ^ Sorry you did not understand. Dick has it. 
He bought it when John Douglass was troubling 
you so.’^ 

Her head was raised now, in a most depre- 
cating attitude, but the next moment it had 
fallen on her hands and her hair was loosened 
and fell to cover her shoulders. She was 
shaken by sobs. Joe was on his knees beside 
her and had his arms about her. 

‘H do not know where you have learned all 
this, ’ ’ came in an unsteady voice. ^ ‘ I have been 
afraid of it. I wish people would not he so 
interested in my affairs. ’ ’ 

‘ ^ Mr. Bradbury told me, ’ ’ Joe said. ‘ ‘ He did 
not say it to meddle. I had asked him who 
held the mortgage, and he was not going to tell 
me — hut he did, and he had to explain why he 
was telling me. He said I was old enough to 
know, and I’m glad I do know. He said I 
should be insured, and I am going to he. You 
were left to fight your way alone once, and you 
will not he again. He told me how you had 
been left alone — about the man who influenced 
my father when everybody else knew what that 
influence was. Then he had to tell about the 
other man who shielded you and kept it from 


JOE GIVES HIS OPINION 


287 


every other person except his father and Mr. 
Hawley. Those two never meddle with our af- 
fairs except when they give their help as they 
did when they made me like other boys — strong 
enough to help you. I’m afraid you made an 
awful mistake, once, Mother, about Dick.” 

‘‘Why, why, Joe Dayton! What a thing for 
you to say. You’re talking against your — ” 

“My father,” he finished. “Well,” slowly, 
“I have never known any one to love except you, 
and Dick, and the friends who have been so 
kind to me, and I do not see why I should talk 
for any one else in matters where we both are 
so much concerned. I know that I have not 
missed a father’s care, because he did not have 
enough to give you what was due you. I know 
that he taunted Dick before a crowd, because 
he was luckier, and that does not make him 
appear very noble to me. ’ ’ 

She was crying silently now. He had her 
close, and all her pretty hair was in his face. 
He went on: 

“Mr. Bradbury thinks as much of you as if 
you were his own daughter. He said, when he 
told me about Dick, that I was a smart boy and 
could take care of you. I was more glad to hear 


288 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


him say that than I could ever be to hear any- 
thing else — except your praise.’’ 

‘‘Well, we won’t say anything more about it 
— about long ago, will we, dear % ’ ’ 

She had lifted her face and gazed appealingly 
at him. 

“Not again. I’m glad it is said, though. It 
oughtn’t to have been kept from me until I was 
more than eighteen years old.” 

“No,” she said, “I ought to have told you — 
but we won’t talk of it any more, will we?” 

“I’ll not make you feel bad again,” he 
promised. 

In the morning she had acceded to both his 
requests, and he kissed her gayly. 

“I do not know why I should do my hair so,” 
she said. 

“Just because you knew I wanted you to,” he 
returned. “I guess you look almost as nice 
now as you can look.” 

When they arrived at the restaurant, Mrs. 
Maloney met them in an attitude of defiance. 
With arms akimbo, she declared : 

“Let ’em come, a bileyon of ’em. We’re 
able ter serve ’em.” Then observing Joe’s 
mother’s appearance, she raised her hands in 


JOE GIVES HIS OPINION 


289 


ecstatic attention, exclaiming, Don’t slie look 
like a sillnf?” 

Joe’s mother regarded her in nnintelligible 
dismay. 

‘‘You mean sylph, don’t you, Bridget?” Joe 
explained. “Where did you ever see one? In 
Ireland ? ’ ’ 

But Bridget had retreated into her kitchen. 

The information from the first express that 
day showed a larger order than on the opening 
day. J oe nodded his satisfaction to his mother. 
Bobby telephoned over from Greenfield, and 
learning the prospects, got Mr. Henderson 
again. Before the train had arrived, the tel- 
egraph operator had instructions to hold the 
expresses twenty minutes at Greenfield, until 
further notice. It was the proudest minute the 
resident manager of Thorndike restaurant had 
ever known — when he saw that message. 


CHAPTER XXVII 
Dick Bradbury’s illness. Joe goes west. 

Two weeks went by. Substantial furniture 
bad taken the place of the fittings brought from 
the Congregational church vestry, on that day 
of the initiation of the ‘‘system’’ in the Thorn- 
dike station restaurant. Business there was 
holding to the high-water mark. 

Joe’s mother was not as contented as condi- 
tions would appear to warrant. A disturbing 
thought had come to her that her boy was grow- 
ing away from her. 

Mrs. Maloney was a wonder of a cook, and 
the four girls did their work at the tables with 
clock-like precision, but Joe was away much of 
the time, before and after expresses, and in the 
evenings he was still, and occupied with his 
thoughts. The confidences which had meant 
so much to her were almost omitted. She often 
wished that she had told him her own story, 
instead of having him hear it from another, 
for she believed that the lack of confidence on 
290 


DICK BRADBURY’S ILLNESS 


291 


her part was responsible for the change in him. 

But it was something entirely out of her 
reckoning that was worrying Joe. No letter 
had come from Dick since the ‘‘system’^ had 
been inaugurated at Thorndike. The boy had 
written, but no word had come from the west. 

One afternoon Joe was in Mr. Bradbury’s 
store, and he said : 

‘‘I’m afraid that something’s the matter. 
He was interested enough to tell me what to do, 
and why doesn’t he write now?” 

The grocer was not inclined to regard the 
matter very seriously. 

“He may be away,” he answered. “He’s 
got a lot of interests in different parts.” 

The boy was not satisfied. That evening he 
telegraphed Dick: 

“Why don’t you come, or write?” 

The next morning as they were waiting for 
the first train order, his mother observing his 
abstraction, said: 

“Joe, are you cross with me?” 

The vehemence of his reply surprised her. 

“Cross with the sweetest, loveliest mother a 
boy ever had?” 


292 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


He stopped his caresses. A telegraph boy 
had entered. Joe gave a jump from behind 
the counter and catching the message tore it 
apart and read it. 

‘^Sign for this, Mother,’^ he shouted, and the 
next instant was out of doors. 

His motions were quieted as he went up Mr. 
Bradbury’s steps. The grocer saw him coming 
and asked: 

‘ ‘ Anything the matter ? ’ ’ 

‘^Dick’s sick. I telegraphed and have an an- 
swer. It says : 


“ ‘Mr. Bradbury very ill. Come on if pos- 
sible. 


“ ‘Kellogg, Physician.’ ” 


The grocer was looking down with an inde- 
cision on his face that Joe had never seen there 
before. 

“You ought to get ready, quick,” the boy 
exclaimed. “You’ll take Mrs. Bradbury along, 
won’t you?” 

The answer came slowly: 

“I’ll have to arrange things here first. His 
mother ought to go.” 


DICK BRADBURY’S ILLNESS 


293 


^^111 take her out/’ Joe proposed. ^‘You 
can come as soon as you can get away. You 
wait. I’ll telegraph again and find out more 
about it. ’ ’ 

He was away and in a few minutes another 
message was going over the wires: 

‘Hs he very sick? Answer. Some one will 
come. ’ ’ 

When he came into the restaurant his mother 
asked, worriedly: 

^‘What in the world is the matter, Joe? 
WTiy do you keep things to yourself so?” 

‘‘Dick’s sick. The doctor has sent for Mr. 
Bradbury.” 

He saw the irritation leave her face. She 
was the same cool, thoughtful mother who had 
directed him before he was able to direct for 
himself, as she asked: 

“Is he very sick?” 

“I’ll find out soon. I’ve just sent another 
message. I’ve been expecting him for ten days. 
He said he would come as soon as I got things 
running with the new range. ’ ’ 

Then she colored. She understood the rea- 


294 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

son why she should wear her hair as she did 
when a girl, and why she should wear the best 
dress; hut her relief, from the knowledge that 
there was no division between herself and Joe 
surmounted everything else. She listened as 
he told of Mr. Bradbury’s unwillingness to de- 
cide at once, concluding with: 

‘ ‘ When I get this answer I T1 know what ought 
to be done.” 

The expresses arrived — customers swarmed 
the place — his mother nodded and smiled when 
they spoke, and then the place was deserted. 
The boy looked at her and found a source of 
discomfort in her composure. 

^‘She doesn’t mind it at all,” he thought. 

As the cash was being made up, she spoke 
of it. 

‘^Mr. Bradbury is over seventy years old. 
He is not accustomed to traveling long dis- 
tances.” 

‘ ^ I thought that I would go, ’ ’ the hoy said. 

^‘Of course — I want you at home — hut per- 
haps you could he useful to him. He has been 
kind to you. ’ ’ 

‘H’ll go,” giving her a hug. know he 
will want me. ’ ’ 


DICK BRADBURY’S ILLNESS 


295 


“And you will write me every dayT’ 

“Say, you do care, don’t you?” in a rapture 
of newly awakened delight. 

“Hush,” she said, “please do not talk so to 
your mother. I am very thankful to any one 
who has helped me. What I care for most, and 
will always care for most, is your love and en- 
tire confidence. ’ ’ 

The awaited answer came at three o’clock. 

‘ ‘ Crisis passed. More favorable. Kellogg. ’ ’ 

Mr. Bradbury had the news as soon as the 
boy could get over there. He was so relieved 
that he was able to look at the situation with 
his usual deliberation. 

“You said you would go out with his mother,” 
he said. “It’s not so easy for a man of my 
age to jump into such a thing without a min- 
ute’s thought about it. If you’ll go with his 
mother I’ll come as soon as I can fix things to 
go. You’re a good boy, Joe. You’ve taken 
a lot of worry off me to-day.” 

“It makes me feel good to have you say 
that,” was the reply. “Now about mother. 
Could she stay at your house while I am away? 
I don’t want to leave her alone.” 


296 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


‘‘What a planner yon are! Sure she can 
stay at the house, and sure she must. WeTl be 
company for each other.’’ 

The arrangements were thus completed. In 
the afternoon two travelers started on the local 
for Hillsboro, to catch an express for the west. 


CHAPTER XXVIII 
Joe’s pride at being able to assist Dick. 

Joe was away from Thorndike a month. 
Such a condition would have seemed impossible 
but a short time ago, and when the business 
was not a quarter its present capacity, but 
Bobby had his atfairs in such good shape, and 
the Maloneys were such good managers, that 
the principal ’s absence caused no inconvenience. 
When, finally he did get home, it was late in 
the afternoon. Bobby brought him, and they 
came across from Brandford. - 

‘‘Dick has been a very sick man,” Joe told 
all his friends. “Typhoid is pretty bad. It 
would have been mighty hard to have him die, 
all alone in that splendid big house. He ’s pick- 
ing up. The doctor said that bringing his 
mother out was the best thing that could be 
done. Just as soon as he is able to travel we’re 
going to get him back here for a good long rest.” 

Mr. Bradbury sat in his usual attitude of 
meditation, his elbows on his knees and his 
hands clasped. 


297 


298 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


^^AYlien I heard about that/^ he said, 
thought I wouldn’t go out west. It’s a stiffish 
journey for an old fellow like me.” 

<<IVe got to go back as soon as I can,” Joe 
went on, and his mother excused the pride which 
was apparent in his tone. ^ ^ I fixed up the rents 
on two blocks for him. He wouldn’t believe 
that it had been done so quickly. He said that 
it usually took three times as long. He’s a 
powerful man out there, when he is well. He 
owns a lot of property. ’ ’ 

^‘Dick always was a powerful man,” Mr. 
Bradbury observed with a sly glance toward 
the woman at the cash register, ^‘even if he 
has sometimes failed in his undertakings. 
Well, I’ll be glad to have him back here again. 
I’ll fix up his old room and he can sit in the bow 
window and breathe the fragrance of the grass 
and the roots and the willow trees. Good Lord, 
I don ’t see how he has kept away from them so 
long as he has. It was such smells as those 
that he was born to, and it will make him a boy 
again. One time I stayed all night in New 
York, and I thought I would suffocate. I 
would rather be the grocer here and get my 
regular August breath from off our intervale 


JOE’S PRIDE 


299 


than live in New York and be a millionaire.’’ 

J oe started west again in a week. As he was 
standing on the steps of the already moving 
train, he leaned ont and gave an order to his 
mother : 

‘^Get a dressmaker to come right away and 
make you the prettiest dress you ever had. 
Will you?” 

She said she would, then stood pouting like 
a girl. She had promised, and Joe knew no 
difference between a promise when there had 
not been one second for argument, and another 
made after due deliberation. She must have 
the dress, not to disappoint Joe, and she went 
about it without delay. In her heart she knew 
she was getting the article of apparel to look 
‘Ghe best she could” when Dick came. 

It was on this occasion that Joe saw the inside 
of the restaurant at Greenfield. The partners 
had gone away in company. 

We’re gaining here, every day,” Bobby told 
him. ‘‘There isn’t much of a cooking outfit 
here, but it was big enough to do all the work 
there was before I came. I’ve been thinking 
that if the road makes a new contract with me. 
I’ll get a range like yours.” 


CHAPTER XXIX 


Further opportunities. “What will you sell 
Thorndike restaurant forT’ 

When Bobby entered the restaurant after 
Joe bad gone away on the Pacific express, bis 
cashier said: 

“Mr. Henderson called up from Hillsboro 
and wanted to know if you were sure to be 
bere to-day, and I told bim you were expected. 
He said that be wanted to see you and would 
come up as soon as possible.” 

A person wbo bad last visited tbe restaurant 
when it bad been under tbe management of tbe 
railroad, would bave been surprised to look in 
now. Tbe improvements did not end with 
bigbly polished hand-rails and tanks, immacu- 
late table linen and an atmosphere of scrupulous 
cleanliness. There was an aspect of life and 
prosperity. As soon as one entered there was 
an immediate welcome from one of tbe young la- 
dies behind the counter. Courtesy and prompt- 
ness of attention was acknowledged by all wbo 
300 


FURTHEE OPPORTUNITIES 


301 


called at the restaurant. The conduct of the 
place had become so near perfection that the 
daughters of the finest people in Greenfield 
considered it a very desirable place in which to 
be employed. There were now no ‘ ^ noon girls. ’ ’ 
Every one connected with the establishment was 
on ‘‘full pay,’’ and each one was its active ad- 
vertiser. 

An entirely new source of income to the place 
had sprung from the acquaintances the manager 
had made. From that night when he had vis- 
ited the church where Miss Chadwick played the 
violin, young people of both sexes commenced 
to call at the restaurant, and the ice-cream and 
soda trade began to increase. The parents of 
the young folks could find no objection to such 
an orderly establishment as a place of ren- 
dezvous. 

It was not wholly the manager, however, who 
had brought about this condition of pleasant 
afternoon meeting at the station. When it had 
become generally known that the girl who had 
played the violin at the church lawn party was 
cashier at the depot restaurant, many girls, mu- 
sically inclined, had sought her acquaintance, 
and she had become a general favorite. 


302 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


To Bobby, bis cashier was a source of ever- 
increasing interest. He had accepted her moth- 
er’s invitation to call at the home and hear a 
private concert, and he found the girl charming 
in her obedience to her parents, and in her 
ability to put a visitor at his ease. She had 
attracted his attention by her quickness, her 
methodical work, and her uniform pleasant ad- 
dress at the station, but at home she won his 
respect and admiration. 

A strong friendship existed between the two. 
The girl, ever alert to the interest of her em- 
ployer, had devised a plan of accounting for 
the three stations beside her own, and this being 
put in operation, had been the subject of a letter 
of congratulation from the auditing depart- 
ment of the road. To Bobby came the entire 
credit, but an increase in the salary of the real 
instigator of the improvement showed that the 
manager appreciated her efforts. 

Shorty was gone — but in his place Raymond 
Jones officiated. The old nickname did not re- 
main long after the boy became a regular at- 
tendant at the night school. 

^^Well, say,” the boy himself explained it, 
‘‘the whole outfit of kids guyed me at first, but 


FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES 


303 


I remembered what you said about being scared 
out of amounting to anything, and I kept right 
on going. One day Skinny Burton asked me to 
let him go into the school with me. He was the 
worst of the guyers. Well, when he went in, 
he wanted to go again, and he ^s been going ever 
since. When the fellows saw Skinny going they 
followed him like sheep. ’ ’ 

Mrs. Jones was very proud of her son’s per- 
sistence in the search for improvement. 

‘Ht’s wonderful how much there is to that 
boy,” she said to her co-laborers, ^‘when you 
think that his father didn’t have sense enough 
to come in when it rained.” 

That noon when Mr. Henderson came to 
make his call on Bobby, the manager had dinner 
ready for him. The superintendent looked 
about the busy place before he began. 

^ ^ I did not make a mistake when I picked you 
for this position. I cannot recall that I ate 
here at all while we were running it.” 

<< There’s no reason why a man should go 
elsewhere,” Bobby insisted. ‘'You can get 
anything any first-class hotel serves, and at 
about the same price. I guess I can beat a 
little on price.” 


304 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


‘‘I suppose the fact has sometimes struck 
you that the time specified in our agreement is 
wearing away rapidly.’’ 

For an instant Bobby felt a singular check in 
his usual comfortable line of thought ! Can he 
be here to replace mef was the impression which 
came first ; then he put it aside, and answered : 

‘‘I haven’t given it a thought. I’ve been too 
busy. I suppose that the reason of my care- 
lessness about the place is that our Thorndike 
restaurant is doing so well that I’m not obliged 
to have the other stations.” 

The superintendent was not working on this 
same line of argument, however, for he said : 

^‘The auditing department has been compar- 
ing the work of this nature on my division with 
that on the southern division, and I think that 
an effort will be made to engage you away from 
me. I’ll want to make a three-years’ contract 
with you, though I once said I would not do 
such a thing with any man, again. I’ll con- 
sider a reasonable increase in your salary, and 
I will allow you to handle the business in your 
own way. There, I’ve come at you frankly — 
what do you say?” 

‘‘I’m glad to know that I’ve satisfied you,” 


FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES 305 

Bobby replied, ‘^and I^m glad that I have 
brought the attention of the company to my- 
self. ’ ’ 

think that in the long run you will do 
better to stay by me, ’ ’ interrupted the superin- 
tendent. have something in my mind for 
the future that would interest you if you were 
old enough to take it up. ’ ^ 

know that I should prefer to stay with 
you,’^ Bobby answered. wiU consider a 
three-years ’ contract. ’ ’ 

‘‘At how much advance a weekT^ 

Bobby laughed, as he returned : 

“What advance ought I to ask? You ought 
to know. ’ ’ 

“You’ve settled the point as to ability, and 
I do not want to haggle about terms. You sent 
in more money in the last three months than 
the restaurants netted in any previous twelve 
months before you were connected with them. 
We’re getting complimentary letters from the 
traveling public, also — still, you are only a 
boy.” 

“A good boy is better than a poor man,” 
Bobby retorted, laughing. 

“We have found that out,” was the response. 


306 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


‘^Suppose I made you an offer of thirty-five 
dollars a week?^’ 

Bobby was slow in accepting, and the superin- 
tendent, taking his own view of the cause of the 
hesitation, resumed: 

‘‘I want you to know that I have done more 
for you than you are aware of. When I allowed 
you to start the Thorndike restaurant, I was 
pretty severely criticised. There has always 
been a faction in our management who believed 
that our restaurants should be run under the 
control of the company. Since you have made 
such a success at Thorndike, the faction have 
had a great deal to say about that place being 
outside the company interests. ’ ’ 

‘‘Those men couldn’t have been satisfied with 
this place before I took hold of it,” Bobby re- 
marked. 

“I’ve brought that to their attention,” Mr. 
Henderson went on. “I’ve told them that it is 
the manager and not the restaurant itself. 
They do not know anything about the business 
end of it, but it’s the men who do not know, 
that often map the policy, in a railroad. I 
mention thirty-five dollars as your salary be- 
cause a larger sum would be likely to raise 


FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES 


307 


opposition from them. Yon must remember 
that you are a boy yet.^^ 

‘‘I’m going to accept the proposition at your 
terms,” Bobby announced, “but I am not able 
to figure that a young fellow who has shown 
satisfactory results ought not to get as much 
consideration as an older fellow who bad run 
behind. I appreciate the fact, though, that if 
you bad interfered with me when I wanted to 
branch out and improve the business, I would 
not have made the showing I have. You have 
stood by me and I’ll stand by you.” 

“I came up to-day believing that you would 
take that view of it. I did not like to think that 
you would cinch me when it came to making a 
new contract.” 

“You of course know that I am getting noth- 
ing out of the road at my present pay, and I 
sha’n’t get anything out of it at the raised pay. 
There was nothing here when I came. I had to 
make the business to get something out of it for 
myself. You said that you would shut the 
places up if I did not make good.” 

“That’s a strong argument on your side,” 
the superintendent acknowledged, “but the fix- 
tures and the stock were here, and there was a 


308 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


sort of impression that the place was a restau- 
rant, even if it wasn’t patronized. Besides, we 
ran the trains that brought the customers,” 
laughing. ‘^Well, shall I consider it settled 
that we will make a contract at thirty-five a 
week for three years from the time the present 
agreement ends?” 

‘‘We’ll consider it settled. There is another 
thing I might bring up, though. I have made 
a deal which gives me provisions at a price 
which pays entirely the thirty-five that you will 
pay me.” 

“Oh, well,” with good-natured deprecation, 
“that was expected of you. You are paid to 
stop the leaks. I’m not trying to belittle your 
work here. It has been fine. I want our con- 
tract signed so that you can say to any one who 
approaches you, that you are tied up for three 
years more. 

“I might have gone about this in a different 
way if the superintendent of the Southern had 
started in differently. He did not come to 
me, but I found his plan out through one of 
my men. I want to see that division make 
its restaurants pay, but I would rather it should 
be done in some way besides at my reputation 


FUETHER OPPORTUNITIES 


309 


and expense. There another thing I want to 
broach to-day. What will you sell the road the 
Thorndike place for?’’ 

Bobby was too much surprised to give an 
immediate answer of any kind. Mr. Henderson 
continued : 

‘^This whole business might be settled to the 
satisfaction of all the interests in the road. If 
we bought that restaurant the entire equipment 
would be in the hands of the company; but if 
you did not stay with us, I would not want the 
road to buy it. If we bought, and that partner 
of yours could be induced to handle the South- 
ern division, and you keep this — with you both 
to look after Thorndike, it would be a perfect 
deal. That partner of yours is smart. He’s 
younger, isn ’t he ? ” 

‘‘A year younger. I don’t think you would 
want to pay what he wohld ask for the place in 
Thorndike. He has been putting in some ex- 
pensive fixtures there, and he says that our 
profits amount to six per cent on eighty thou- 
sand dollars.” 

‘^We could not pay that amount,” the super- 
intendent said with a laugh. ‘^Perhaps you 
might get him to consider the fact that we will 


310 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


give him a three-year contract on the Southern 
Division at thirty-five a week. He would not 
have any money invested, and as he is another 
boy, he would be doing fairly well. I should 
not wonder if the road would pay you five 
thousand for your interests at Thorndike. 
Talk it oyer with him. Now come over to a 
lawyer and we will fix up the matters between 
us.’^ 

An hour later Bobby returned to the restau- 
rant. Approaching the cashier, he said : 

do not remember that you have ever told 
me your age.’^ 

She looked up, quickly, and returned : 

^ H do not remember that I have, either. ’ ’ 
want you to, for business reasons.’^ 

She was plainly puzzled at such a peculiar 
situation, but replied: 

shall be eighteen in February.” 
have just signed a contract with Mr. Hen- 
derson that will keep you at that desk until you 
are twenty-one years old.” 

‘ ‘Well, isn T that splendid ! ” in delight. “Now 
I will begin to take lessons of Mr. Phippen. 
He is in Hillsboro, and he charges two dollars a 
lesson. I can go down on the seven-ten and get 


FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES 


311 


there at eight, and catch the nine-thirty, back. 
I will buy a commutation ticket and my lesson 
will cost me three dollars and a quarter.^’ 
Bobby thought her very pretty in her excite- 
ment. 

‘‘Will your mother let you go alone T’ he 
asked. 

‘ ‘ Certainly. I am old enough to earn my liv- 
ing. She goes with me only when the place is 
where I have never been before.’’ 

“Well, it’s at night, and it’s quite a distance. 
I ’d go with you if you would let me. ’ ’ 

“I could not think of causing so much trou- 
ble. It ’s very kind in you, hut — ’ ’ 

“It will be no trouble at all,” insisted the 
manager. “You tell your mother that I’m go- 
ing to your lessons with you and she needn’t 
worry. ’ ’ 


CHAPTER XXX 

Joe has another offer. Joe’s mother has also. 

Joe’s mother was not enthusiastic over the 
proposition Bobby brought home that night. 
She was proud that the railroad company ac- 
knowledged her boy’s smartness, but she did 
not like any idea whatever which would take 
him away from her. 

^‘We are doing so well that there is no need 
of Joe’s taking on* anything more,” she de- 
clared. 

think that you had better consider Dick’s 
wishes when you plan on Joe,” Mrs. Hawley 
remarked, with a look at Joe’s mother which 
spoiled any further argument. ‘‘Better wait 
until they get home.” 

So they waited. Joe’s mother received a let- 
ter every day. 

“Dick is improving,” was the clause that 
most interested Mr. Bradbury, but Bobby had 
been seized with an ambition to handle all the 
railroad restaurants, and he listened a little 
impatiently as Joe’s mother read. 

312 


JOE HAS ANOTHER OFFER 


313 


‘‘Dick is fit to travel, but there are several 
things I must fix up before he can get away.’^ 

The “fixing up’’ occupied another week; 
then, one evening a telegram came saying that 
the party would be in Thorndike the next day, 
at noon. 

J oe ’s mother could not go near the train when 
it got in because she had to look after the crowd 
of hungry people who rushed into the restau- 
rant. She stood at the door, however, and an- 
swered Joe’s hand-wave; then a number of men 
huddled with short steps toward the carriage. 
J oe went away with Dick. 

She was disappointed. She had thought Joe 
would come for one kiss after being away from 
her so long, but she smiled at the people who 
wanted to chat as they paid their dinner bill, and 
no one among them knew that she was not as 
happy as she was lovely. When the Hawleys 
returned and told her how sick Dick looked, 
how weak he was, and how much he depended 
on Joe, there might have been pride in her 
heart, but what she was most conscious of was 
a feeling that she was very much “out of it” in 
everything. 

When Joe did come in, however, after the 


314 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

trains had pulled away, he had her in his arms 
almost before the door had shut and she laughed 
and cried in happiness. 

‘‘What a pretty dress .P’ the boy exclaimed, 
holding her away and examining her all over. 

“You told me to get it.^’ It was an apology 
for such an exhibition of vanity. 

“ITl have that dressmaker build three more. 
It makes you look awfully little.’’ 

Mrs. Hawley replied for her : 

“Yes, it’s a pretty dress.” 

“But doesn’t she look great in it?” asked 
the delighted boy. 

“She could not be little and great, too, Joe,” 
Mrs. Hawley answered. “I guess you must 
mean lovely, but I never think it right to com- 
pliment a woman to her face.” 

Joe laughed heartily at the pout on his moth- 
er’s lips. He took his favorite attitude with 
his arm about her, and discovered that the 
waist was easier to encircle than formerly, at 
which he laughed and kissed her again. 

Bobby came in and there was much hand- 
shaking (by Joe’s other hand), then Bobby 
broached the new proposition. 

“There has not been any actual otfer made,” 


JOE HAS ANOTHER OFFER 315 

he explained, ^^but if you want to consider one, 
an otfer will come/’ 

Joe hesitated, and Bobby went on, disap- 
pointedly : 

thought you would jump at it.” 

^ ^ Perhaps I may, but I shall have to find out 
what Dick says about it first,” was the reply. 
‘ AVeTl get round to it in a little while.” 

^^Twenty-five hundred is good money for a 
thing you gave five hundred for,” Bobby in- 
sinuated, ‘ ^ and we T1 both be taken care of. ’ ’ 

There was nothing further said about selling 
for two days. Then it was broached by Joe’s 
mother when they were at home together in 
the evening. She had not been just satisfied 
when he had omitted her as one whose influence 
would be required in the decision. She had 
thought it all out, however, and now began : 

‘‘I haven’t said anything about you taking 
the Southern Division restaurants, dear, but I 
would not, if I were you.” 

Joe waited awhile, then returned: 

‘‘I’m thinking it over. There’s some things 
that look pretty good about it. If they paid 
five thousand — ” 

“But do you think they would, Joe?” 


316 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

^^They will not get it if they don’t If they 
gave five thousand we could pay Dick back the 
borrowed money, take up the mortgage and 
have a thousand left. I would be receiving 
thirty-five a week and we would save something 
of that — but there ’s Dick. He will not give me 
any advice about it.” 

^‘And of course his advice is better than 
mine. ’ ’ 

Joe laughed and gave her a hug. 

won’t do anything that you do not ap- 
prove of.” 

^‘Well, if you take the Southern Division you 
would have to be away from me a great deal, 
and I do not approve of that. ’ ’ 

^‘We would not live here if I took it,” was 
the answer. ‘^We would have to be nearer 
the work.” 

It was said so quickly that she knew ho had 
been considering the matter very closely in- 
deed. She made no further comment. It 
seemed to her a prodigious and unhappy thing 
to think of moving away from Thorndike. 

J oe and Mrs. Hawley had many casual meet- 
ings about this time. Not very long, but seri- 
ous conversations ensued between them, in 


JOE HAS ANOTHER OFFER 317 

■which the lady propounded certain views with 
such persistency that the boy was plainly in- 
fluenced toward her theory (whatever it was) 
every time he left her. Joe was ■with Dick a 
part of every day. Just after the return from 
out west, the two were in the upstairs room 
in Mr. Bradbury ^s house, but in a week they 
were out riding together. They would not ride 
very far, however, before some townsman or 
townswoman stopped them to make inquiry 
after the invalid’s health. As much attention 
was bestowed on Dick as would have been given 
to any world-celebrity. 

During all this time there was one person who 
was i^ot very happy, though she smiled when 
the customers at the restaurant chatted as they 
paid for their dinners, and every one thought 
she was just as light-hearted as she was inter- 
esting. Joe’s mother had to summon all her 
fortitude to fight her loneliness. She tried all 
her arts to make Joe take more notice of her, 
but the boy was so busy that he did not see her 
efforts. One morning she came do-wn later 
than usual. Mrs. Hawley had dropped in, and 
another conversation with Joe had ensued. It 
was but just concluded when Joe’s mother en- 


318 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


tered, attired in one of the new creations of her 
dressmaker. In a moment Joe’s mother had 
forgotten her past misery and was in an ecstasy 
of delight. Joe was lovingly enthusiastic over 
her. 

‘‘You certainly have a good costumer,” Mrs. 
Hawley exclaimed, examining her critically. 

“Joe had it made,” was her happy expla- 
nation. “He walked around me when it was 
being fitted, telling the dressmaker to ‘bring 
her in here, and let her out there,’ just as he 
did to that Boston man who was putting the 
range in.” 

She laughed when Mrs. Hawley laughed, be- 
cause Joe’s notice had made her so contented, 
but presently the visitor’s face grew grave, 
and coincidently Joe slipped out of doors to 
look after something or other. No one could 
have thought the situation premeditated. 

“Do you know, Phoebe,” Mrs. Hawley said, 
and there was womanly delicacy displayed, be- 
cause she did not say it until they were alone, 
“people are talking a little about you!” 

‘ ‘ Oh, my goodness ! ’ ’ the happiness all out of 
her wonderful eyes. “It’s the tight dresses. 
I oughtn’t to have let Joe make me do it, but 


JOE HAS ANOTHER OFFER 


319 


lie will not look at me unless I do what he asks 
me to.^’ 

Mrs. Hawley had to turn away to conceal her 
amusement over the exhibition of distress. 
She resumed quickly, however; 

^Ht isn’t that. The dresses are beautiful. 
It’s about your not calling on Hick. You are 
the only one of his old acquaintances who has 
kept away from him.” 

There was an increase of distress on the 
beautiful face now. ‘‘You know that I could 
not go,” in a low voice. “It’s different about 
my going.” 

“Yes, it is different, but people have a dif- 
ferent way of looking at things, you know. 
You know that there are comparatively few 
who really knew all about it and it was so long 
ago that others have forgotten just how it was 
— besides, people who have come here since have 
not received just the right idea about it, and 
I think that some of them believe that he went 
— well, everybody can not get everything right, 
of course — ” 

“I don’t understand,” said Joe’s mother, 
with a pucker in her brow. 

“Well, some people might think that you were 


320 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


— a little piqued at Ms going away after lie 
had been so attentive — you know that people 
will talk — 

‘^And that I took — 

‘^Yes. Because everybody knew what a 
splendid fellow Dick always was — and he has 
proved himself you know.’’ 

Joe’s mother was too much amazed to reply 
immediately. Mrs. Hawley finished it. 

‘‘Some people might believe that the reason 
you do not go to him now is because he went 
away from you — ” 

“I never heard of anything so preposter- 
ous,” exclaimed Joe’s mother. “He would 
never have done such a thing, and I hope you 
told them so.” She subsided, quite unnerved 
by such an outburst, and said, after working 
the situation out from the new view-point : 

“I think that perhaps I had better go after 
what has been said.” 

“I think I would,” Mrs. Hawley declared. 
“If there has been any talk, it will be stopped 
at once. Everybody will see that you and Dick 
are good friends.” 

She said it as she was preparing to leave, 
and then she did leave. As she passed Joe, 


JOE HAS ANOTHER OFFER 


321 


who was coming across the square from the 
grocery store, she smiled, and inclined her 
head, but did not make any conversation. A 
few minutes later, Joe entered the restaurant. 

A whole half-hour passed during which the 
boy stole covert glances at the woman who was 
never so busy before, at that time of day. He 
could not recall the time when she had gone so 
long without speaking to him. Finally he 
said: 

want you to go to see Hick with me, this 
afternoon. Almost everybody in town has 
called, and it looks a little strange when you 
think that I went clear out west to see him, and 
you can not get across the street.’’ 

He saw her heightened color as he went on, 
but she made no comment beyond expressing a 
willingness to go after her cash was made up. 

Then they went out together, leaving Mrs. 
Maloney and a waitress in charge. As they 
were ascending the Bradbury steps she took 
his hand. Mrs. Bradbury received them as cor- 
dially as if this were an ordinary visit, and 
ushered them up to Hick’s room. 

^H’ve brought a visitor,” Joe said. 

Her face was much flushed but she waited 


322 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


until he had slowly arisen from his big rocker 
in the bow window. He reached out his hand 
but did not come forward, so Joe led her to 
him. He said: 

am glad to see this visitor.’^ 

‘‘We are all very glad that you are improv- 
ing so fast,’’ she began; then, her eyes lifting, 
she stopped. He seemed so tall and white and 
there were such gray streaks in his hair at the 
sides. 

“I am getting on finely, with Joe’s help,” 
came back the reply. Joe, seeing how poorly 
she was bearing the scrutiny, put his arm 
around her and took her to a chair in the bow 
window ; then with a nervous flutter she put her 
hand in his, in mute appeal that he stay beside 
her. 

“I wanted to talk over this railroad offer 
with you both,” Joe said. “Mother thinks I 
should not sell and go to work for the railroad 
as it will take us away from Thorndike and — ” 
“I do not like the arrangement, myself,” 
Hick interrupted. He had a very positive way 
for a man who had been so ill, she thought. 
It was easy to see that he would have the greater 
part in the decision about the course Joe would 


JOE HAS ANOTHER OFFER 


323 


take, still she was relieved because he had 
agreed with her views about leaving Thorn- 
dike and she raised her eyes to express her 
thankfulness. She hoped the interview would 
not last long, not only because she was feeling 
so ill at ease that she wished she had not come, 
but also because she was very much provoked 
over the knowledge that she was showing every 
bit of discomfort she was feeling. 

know all about this proposition,’’ Dick 
was now telling her downcast eyes. Since 
J oe has been looking after me and my interests, 
I have come to depend on him. I am finding 
out that I can not take care of things as easily 
as I did once, and I know that I need him more 
than the road does.” 

She gave another upward flash of her eyes, 
just to show that she heard, for she took it for 
granted that it had all been settled between 
them before she was brought over; then she 
looked up at Joe, and commenced to arise to 
go home, but Dick’ had something else to say. 

‘‘I am very glad you came to-day as I have 
been thinking it over very seriously. I have 
talked to my father and mother about it and 
they agree most heartily. I want to make Joe 


324 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


my heir, and I want him to have his name 
changed, by law, to Bradbnry.” 

Her hand dropped out of Joe’s. Dick went 
on: 

^‘This arrangement would be more advanta- 
geous to him than anything the railroad could 
offer. To me it is an absolute necessity — be- 
sides, I am very fond of Joe.” 

As far as she could understand it, she was 
never to resume her old happy relationship 
with her boy. It was a cold heart which had to 
realize that he would go from her. The room 
was close and she wanted to get out of doors 
more than ever. The color on her cheeks was 
gone and the pallor there gave to the long 
lashes and the brows and the eyes an increased 
beauty and depth. She knew she must say 
something, but unconsciously it was an appeal 
which came from her. 

think you are very kind to do so much for 
Joe, and if — if the restaurant might not be sold 
I could take care of it. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Without me 1 ’ ’ demanded Joe, looking down 
on her. The genuine amazement in his tone 
startled her into glancing up. She saw that 
the invalid was leaning quite out to the end 


JOE HAS ANOTHER OFFER 


325 


of his chair arm and was, consequently, very 
near, indeed ; hut the next instant J oe was down 
on his knees beside her, both his arms about 
her and his lips were pressed to her cheek. 

“ITl never leave you alone in the restau- 
rant,” the boy said. 

‘‘And there is my difficulty,” Dick explained. 

No other woman was ever in a like position. 
It had come about in so short a time that she 
was almost dizzy. A boy was rapturously lov- 
ing her on one side, and a man’s face was close 
up to the other side — and footsteps sounded 
on the stairs. She started quickly but she was 
regularly wedged in, and Dick was talking. 

“I would not separate you and Joe for the 
world. I thought that perhaps you would come 
with us — and change your name, too, and take 
care of us both.” 

It was all clear to her now. Her downcast 
face with the carnations on each cheek was so 
expressive that no further verbal message was 
necessary. Besides, Dick being a business 
man, and having had one experience, had her 
hand in his and was slipping on her finger a 
hoop of gold with a diamond set in it. Her 
first remark explained her full realization. 


326 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


‘‘Did — did Mrs. Hawley know — about itT^ 

“Mrs. Hawley has been indispensable to me,’’ 
Dick answered. “ While Joe has bandied this 
end, she has had the overlooking of the restau- 
rant end.” 

The smile which met her upward glance 
showed that he was feeling pretty well for an 
invalid. The steps were almost at the door. 
She moved quickly, but without getting very 
far, for presently she was held in the vice of a 
sick man’s arm, and Joe’s face was pressed 
close to her face by the sick man’s other arm — 
and the steps stopped at the doorway. 

“Mother,” said the sick man, “Phoebe and 
Joe will take tea with us, to-night.” 

“That will be lovely,” came in a soft, happy 
voice, and the footsteps were retraced down 
through the haU. 


CHAPTEE XXXI 

Bobby makes a proposition to the railroad. Ray- 
mond GETS A CHANCE. 

That afternoon visit to Dick Bradbury had 
important effects on the affairs at Bobby 
and Joe’s/’ In the evening Joe announced 
that he was to take his mother’s place as cash- 
ier in the morning, and he also gave Bobby his 
answer on the railroad proposition. 

‘^Dick’s running things around here,” Bobby 
told his family, later. ^^Joe will sell his half 
of the restaurant, but Dick is going to take 
him and his mother out west, so nothing can 
be done about working up the Southern Divi- 
sion. ’ ’ 

‘‘I think it’s just splendid, the way every- 
thing has come out,” Mrs. Hawley declared. 

am going to have her and Dick up to dinner 
as soon as he is able to make a visit.” 

don’t know what Mr. Henderson will 
say, ’ ’ pursued Bobby. ‘ ‘ I think that he wanted 
Joe as much as the restaurant. I thought it 
327 


328 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

would be a good thing to sell, but I never 
dreamed that Joe would not be with us.” 

‘^Surprises and sudden happenings which 
look serious are a part of life,” Mr. Hawley 
exclaimed. ‘‘You have got to learn that dis- 
appointment is dodging around all the time to 
perplex you. If you get in the habit of living 
with the idea that your road will never be any 
rougher than when you are going along easily, 
you will get some hard jolts before you come to 
the end of it. I cannot see why Joe’s going 
away should hold you ‘up,’ permanently. You 
must try to find a way to meet all of Mr. Hen- 
derson’s demands without Joe, and show your- 
self worthy of receiving that other place which 
he suggests your taking when you are old 
enough. I’m glad Joe is to be provided for 
so nicely. I knew that Dick thinks him a ne- 
cessity to him. He told me that the boy has 
been settling up matters easily, which have 
come to be almost an annoyance to himself. 
There is a great future for Joe, and I’m glad 
for him — even if I had nothing whatever to do 
with bringing it about.” 

Mrs. Hawley fiushed, and laughed as she re- 
torted : 


BOBBY MAKES A PROPOSITION 329 


^ ‘ I am glad for Mm, too, and I did have some- 
thing to do in bringing it about. I think you 
might work that Raymond Jones into the 
Thorndike station, Bobby. He’s a smart boy, 
and ought to be given a chance somewhere.” 

‘‘Ray would fit in here at Thorndike,” Bobby 
said, after a minute’s thought. “Mrs. Maloney 
and the girls could run the place with any care- 
ful cashier. I have been worrying about Ray’s 
mother. Suppose that she should leave me. It 
would put me in a bad fix, all right. I thought 
I had things here in good shape and that if 
Mrs. Maloney should leave me, Joe’s mother 
could keep us going until we found some one 
else — but now that we are going to lose Joe’s 
mother, T may be put into a tight box in both 
places.” 

Mr. Hawley laughed, as he replied : 

“I guess there was no need for me to warn 
you not to lie down on your present security. 
It’s another business axiom that you need to 
ponder, and that is : Don’t jump the brook un- 
til you come to it. You will have no trouble 
with the Maloneys. You are paying into that 
family twenty-eight dollars a week. That is 
more than comes into many a family three times 


330 ME. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


as large. I happen to know something which 
should ease your mind, somewhat. The Ma- 
loneys are negotiating a mortgage through Mr. 
Bartlett. They are buying a house, so I think 
that you may safely infer that their present 
circumstances are satisfactory to them.’’ 

‘‘That’s good news,” declared Bobby, and his 
voice showed his relief. “There’s the same 
amount going into Ray’s family, from the res- 
taurant, and Ray picks up four or five dollars 
from letting out the bootblack stand. Ray 
would do well here in Thorndike. He has at- 
tended right up to the evening school and his 
experience at the cashier’s desk after Miss 
Chadwick goes has given him considerable ex- 
perience. ’ ’ 

“I would not worry about your cooks,” Mr. 
Hawley advised. “I should say that you are 
as well fixed in that direction as if you had 
anticipated Joe’s going, and had prepared for 
it. That’s a pretty good word for any one to 
keep in mind — that word ‘anticipated.’ It 
meant considerable to me one time. When 
your mother and I were first married we hired 
a house of Moses Preston. He was what is 
known as a ‘near man.’ We lived in the house 


BOBBY MAKES A PROPOSITION 331 


a year and expected to stay there until we could 
buy our own home. One day, about a week be- 
fore the rent was due, I met Mr. Preston on the 
street and I paid him. He made out the re- 
ceipt, and as he handed it to me he said, with 
a chuckle, H guess I will not make any change.’ 

^What change were you thinking of mak- 
ing?’ I asked him. 

H’ve had two dollars a month more than 
you pay offered for the house,’ he said, ‘but 
I guess I won’t change. I might get a man in 
who don’t anticipate his payments.’ ” 

“You must not think it operates in that 
agreeable way every time, Bobby,” warned his 
mother ; “ I have heard that Andrew Hardstone 
was very appreciative when John Roberts pa- 
pered three rooms in the house he was hiring, 
but Mr. Hardstone raised the rent next month, 
because, as he said, ‘the house was worth more, 
now that it was fixed up.’ ” 

“There are men and men,” Mr. Hawley ar- 
gued. “You will run across some who will 
shirk their own obligations but who will insist 
that obligations to them be fulfilled to the let- 
ter. However, if you do the straight thing 
and be timely in your payments you are putting 


332 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

yourself in the way of any opportunity for bet- 
terment that might be coming along/’ 

These home talks had carried Bobby to his 
work with a lightened heart many a time, and 
now, after a good night’s sleep, he was better 
prepared to meet Joe. When the two met in 
the restaurant the next morning, he began : 

‘‘I hate like sixty to have you leave me, 
Joe, but I guess that it’s the better thing for 
you, and I wish you all the luck possible. 
We’ve got along finely together.” 

^ ‘ It will be a good many years before I forget 
the time when there wasn’t much in sight for 
mother and me, and you took us both in,” re- 
plied serious Joe. 

Bobby found Mr. Henderson waiting at 
Greenfield that day, and he explained Joe’s po- 
sition; alsO' stated that the Thorndike restau- 
rant could be bought for five thousand dollars. 

‘‘Well,” the superintendent commented, 
“that will partly arrange matters; that is, all 
matters* that I am personally interested in.” 

“T can handle the Southern Division, also,” 
Bobby said, “if you make the deal right away 
and hire Joe to help me as long as he stays 
around here. You could loan me for such time 


BOBBY MAKES A PROPOSITION 333 

as I could get away, and Joe and I would start 
tilings up ; then when a plan is made that will 
pull the other places into better shape, I could 
overlook them and keep them upJ’ 

^^YouVe done some planning since we talked 
this overJ^ 

‘^And I think that the starting of the other 
places would perhaps give me ideas how to im- 
prove my own restaurants. I would like to do 
this for you, and for myself, and perhaps I 
could run into that other proposition that you 
have for me when I grow up, a little quicker.’^ 
Mr. Henderson laughed. 

‘^That other thing is a pretty big proposi- 
tion,’’ he answered, ^‘but I am inclined to think 
that you will get up to it, sometime. I like the 
way you go at things. I’ll try to put this 
through at once. Make a typewritten state- 
ment of the business you have done, day by day, 
for the last month. I’ll get it before the proper 
authorities. You think five thousand is the 
lowest price for Thorndike restaurant!” 

‘^Joe will not sell for a cent less, and if he 
hadn’t that other work before him, he would 
not sell at all. Dick Bradbury says that al- 
though that twenty-five-year right to operate 


334 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


a store at the depot was probably given as a 
joke, it is a joke that will hold the road for 
about twenty-three and a half years longer.” 

Mr. Henderson threw back his head and 
laughed. 

thought that right would be thrown back 
on us in about two months,” he said. ‘‘I never 
for an instant dreamed that we were giving for 
five dollars a year a perquisite which would so 
soon pay six per cent on seventy-five thousand 
dollars. That is the way Joe figures it, isn’t 
it?” still laughing. 

‘^When you see my statement you’ll see that 
he is right,” stoutly. “Dick says that we are 
giving it to you, but he knows that I am after 
that other proposition, by and by, and he wants 
Joe out west. Dick is a pretty big man. He 
owns stock in about everything that I know any- 
thing about — ” 

“Including the C. & A.,” interrupted Mr. 
Henderson. 

“Is that so?” Bobby could not conceal his 
surprise. “I don’t think father knows that, 
even. ’ ’ 

“I think he does,” Mr. Henderson said. 
“Dick Bradbury is known by every banking 


BOBBY MAKES A PROPOSITION 335 


house in the country that carries first-class se- 
curities, and I should not wonder if about all 
the leading bankers sometimes consult Mr. 
Bradbury as to what first-class securities are.’’ 

‘‘By sixty, Joe has fallen into a pretty good 
thing, hasn’t he? I don’t wonder that he is 
willing to go out west.” 

Dick Bradbury’s financial standing still oc- 
cupied Bobby’s thoughts, when, a half hour 
later, he went to talk with Raymond Jones. 

“Well, say,” began that young man of gen- 
eral work, as they met, “you and the ‘super.’ 
are putting up long confabs these days. He 
wasn’t asking you to take the president’s job, 
was he?” 

“No,” returned the manager, “he hasn’t 
come to that yet. What we were talking of has 
you to do with it, a little.” 

“Who, me?” in unfeigned wonder. Then 
his naturally buoyant temperament overcom- 
ing surprise, or all other emotions, “If he 
wants me for president, tell him it’s all off. 
I’ve got enough responsibility in looking after 
the meat and fish and vegetables. ’ ’ 

The wide grin on the boy’s face exposed the 
fact that two front teeth were missing. 


336 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


^‘How did that happen T’ Bobby asked. Un- 
conscioTisly his tone had taken on a tinge of an- 
noyance. He thought it the result of a boyhood 
fight and he would not want to put a fighting 
boy in charge at Thorndike. 

‘^Well, say. It^s bad enough to get one in 
the mouth from a blundering ball pitcher, with- 
out being blown up by the boss for it. I got 
that knock a week ago.’’ 

‘^You’U have to have a dentist fix it up right 
away.” Bobby’s suggestion came in a quick, 
decisive voice. 

‘‘Well, say,” unable to understand the situa- 
tion. “Do you think I’ll hoodoo the business? 
The way you spit it out, it looks as though you 
were afraid the Chicago express would make a 
mistake and think my mouth was a tunnel. ’ ’ 

“You know that I once told you that if you 
tried to make something of yourself you might 
manage a restaurant some day?” 

“And I did it, didn’t I?” 

“Yes, and I’m here with the restaurant that 
you can manage. ’ ’ 

Ray was too much surprised to grin now. 
Bobby asked him: 

“Do you think that you could hold down the 


BOBBY MAKES A PROPOSITION 337 


cashier’s desk at Thorndike, and keep things 
np there?” 

it’s the same thing as this is, and you’d 
give me a look over now and then, I could. ’ ’ 

The boy was serious enough now. Plis face 
was pale from the thought of it. He continued 
with a shrewd shake of his head : 

^H’d give a mighty hard try at it.” 

think you’re going to get the chance to 

try.” 

‘‘Well, say. Let me get this to mother. She 
may kick about my being away from home 
nights — ” 

‘ ‘But you need not be away from home nights. 
You can have a pass over the road — ” 

“Who, me? A pass? Just stick it out for 
the conductor to see and then slam it hack in 
your pocket again? Well, say. If I get a 
chance at the Thorndike cashier desk and have 
a pass I won’t change jobs with the president 
any time.” 

He was the rollicking boy again, and noth- 
ing hut happiness was in his vision — until he 
was seized with a sudden anxiety. 

“Is it a sure thing?” he asked, and clutched 
strongly at his employer’s coat in his eager- 


338 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 

ness. you think well pull it off sure! 

How’s it look to you, honest Injun T’ 

‘^The proposition started from the road,” 
Bobby answered. ‘HVe got to get some fig- 
ures together. If it goes through I thought I 
would start you at fifteen dollars a week, and 
youTl be the ‘manager’ on the spot.” 

“Fifteen dollars a week and a pass,” in 
suppressed ecstasy. “Wait till I tell mother. 
Well, say,” suddenly toning his voice to a con- 
fidential lowness. “We’re going to buy a 
place, mother and me. A real one with a fence 
around it out in ‘Pope’s Addition.’ Seven 
rooms and windows all over it. We’ve got 
land that’ll keep any other house from butting 
up against us, and if there’s any wind a blow- 
ing, we own a snack of it. We’re going to keep 
chickens. I told mother you’d buy eggs from 
us — and the fowls and broilers. You would, 
wouldn’t you?” 

“I could use some of your eggs and chickens. 
Say, Bay, is your mother satisfied with me — 
with her place, here?” 

“Satisfied! Well, say! If the president of 
the road should get off the train and offer her 
a bran new locomotive to go to work for him, 


BOBBY IVIAKES A PROPOSITION 339 


she wouldn’t budge! She’s so satisfied that 
she tells me twelve times a week to keep my 
eye on you and you’ll make something out of 
me, and now you’re doing it. Well, say, when 
she hears about this — ” 

He did not finish, because nothing within his 
comprehension would express just what she 
would say. 

shall not know about this for sure for a 
week,” Bobby said. He was feeling much 
elated because he knew there was no need of 
worrying over Mrs. Jones’s position in the 
Greenfield restaurant kitchen. ‘‘We must look 
around and find some one to be meat inspector 
here. ’ ’ 

“Don’t you hint that it won’t work. It 
makes me nervous to hear it. Of course it’ll 
work. Now there’s Billygoat. He could do 
my work here.” 

“Billygoat?” repeated Bobby. “Is that a 
real name?” 

“Billy Grout. Well, say! Bill Grout knows 
this business from top to bottom. He’s so 
stuck on inspectin’ provisions that I have to 
push him clear to the end of the platform to 
start him after the up-town shines. He’s 


340 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


straighter than a flagpole, Billygoat is. He 
told me and mother that if we rnn np against 
any hard bumps with the house when we bought 
it, he’d chip in. He hasn’t any mother, and 
the both of us haven’t any father. He says 
fathers are no good anyhow, and I guess he’s 
right — ” 

We ’ll look him over together,” Bobby inter- 
rupted. ^ Hf he ’s fit we will try him. ’ ’ 

‘H’ll have two lights put up in the tunnel 
right away,” Raymond announced, motioning 
toward his mouth. ‘^You’ll see me get the 
whole equipment into shape if the new job 
comes to me. Well, say I The manager of a 
restaurant with a pass! I’m mighty glad now 
that you got me to polish myself up against a 
school teacher.” 


CHAPTEE XXXII 

Mr. Bradbury and Mrs. Hawley play partners in 

THE GAME OF PROMOTION. 

Joe’s motlier was very happy during this 
time. Every day she was out driving with 
Dick, and many of the rides had the Hawley 
farm as a point of call. 

declare, I’m pleased enough that I hur- 
ried them up,” Mrs. Hawley told her husband 
one afternoon. ‘^To see Dick reach for her 
hand and put it on his arm is almost pathetic. 
He does it so suddenly at times — when he is 
talking or when he is thinking. It was the pret- 
tiest thing imaginable to hear Phoebe tell why 
she is wearing a jaunty cap instead of a hat. 
She says that Dick calls a big hat ridiculous 
when driving, but I say that Phoebe was never 
prettier than in that cap, and Dick knows it.” 

‘^Dick seems very contented,” Mr. Hawley 
returned. ‘‘He shows up pretty big when you 
know him thoroughly. When they thought he 
was going to die out west there he destroyed 
341 


342 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


all the notes he held against Joe, and the mort- 
gage on the house — ’’ 

‘‘So Phoebe would not be bothered,^’ Mrs. 
Hawley said, fully comprehending. “Isn’t he 
just splendid r’ 

“They are talking of tearing down the cot- 
tage and building a fine summer home on the 
site. That would bring them here every year. 
Henry is pleased enough about it, but it’s quite 
a distance from Henry’s house to Phoebe’s. 
I’ve been thinking — ” 

Mrs. Hawley looked at her husband. It did 
not seem possible that the thought which sud- 
denly came to her was the very one her hus- 
band had stopped over — ^but she was waiting 
most interestedly. 

“I’ve been thinking,” resumed her husband, 
“that we are not much farther away from 
Henry than Phoebe is, and — well, Thorndike 
isn’t much cooler than other places on a sultry 
day. If Dick would care to buy, I would sell 
him our south knoll. Do you think that you 
and Phoebe would continue on good terms if you 
lived as near as that? If Henry Bradbury’s 
son wants some of our air, he’s the only man 
I know of who can buy it. ’ ’ 


MR. BRADBURY AND MRS. HAWLEY 343 

That was the thought which had come to Mrs. 
Hawley. She was delighted. 

Would you let me broach it to them?’’ she 
asked. 

‘Wes. I guess you are the one to do it. We 
do not want to force anything on to them, hut 
if they want the knoll they can have it. It will 
not cut into the farm any, and they will have 
their separate right of way to the road. It ’s as 
cool there as here.” 

It may be supposed that many hours did not 
pass before Mrs. Hawley had occasion to go 
down town. She found all of the Bradburys 
assembled on the grocery store steps, and im- 
mediately stated her errand, concluding with : 

“You could sell Phoebe’s place.” 

“I think you’re lucky to have the opportunity 
to buy,” Mr. Bradbury said. “Hartwell will 
give you a bonus to-morrow. Phoebe knows 
what the air on that hill is in summer. ’ ’ 

“Yes,” Joe’s mother said, softly, “I shall 
never forget that air coming into my room the 
afternoon they took me there, when I was sick.” 

“We will buy the knoll, and thank you for the 
opportunity,” Dick said. He had put Joe’s 
mother’s hand on his arm. “I’ll have Joe get 


344 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


a Boston architect to look over the site and 
submit a plan for a house worthy of the loca- 
tion — 

‘‘WeTl have a ‘Nob HilP in town,” inter- 
rupted Mr. Bradbury. “ITl wager that Hart- 
well gets a location up there. ^ ’ 

“No,” Mrs. Hawley insisted, “John said that 
only one man could buy his air and that man 
was Henry Bradbury’s son.” 

For a minute Mr. Bradbury could make no 
retort. Joe’s mother watched the working of 
the old face, a smile of sympathy on her own — 
then said: 

“I think it very beautiful that those two good 
men have always been able to live near each 
other. ’ ’ 

“I’m not ashamed to have people know that 
I value John Hawley’s good opinion,” Mr. 
Bradbury remarked, “but I didn’t know that he 
would give up a part of his well-guarded acres 
even to one of my kin. I am very proud of his 
confidence. ’ ’ 

“And I know that he is proud of the good 
things you say about him,” interposed Joe’s 
mother, “and he should be.” 

“I don’t need any championing, or apologiz- 


MR. BRADBURY AND MRS. HAWLEY 345 

ing for, or any kind of care-taking by you in 
any way, Phoebe,’’ Mr. Bradbury said, ‘‘but 
one of my kin does. I’ve heard about the house 
you are going to have in the west, and the sum- 
mer home you’re contemplating here; but Dick 
don’t seem to be able to tell just when you’re 
going to be married. Dick’s mother is getting 
anxious. She asked me yesterday when we 
were going to send the cards out, and I couldn’t 
say anything. I thought that you and Dick had 
come to some understanding — ” 

“After twenty- two years,” interrupted the 
Bradbury son, at which there was general 
laughter. Mr. Bradbury persisted : 

“How long ought it take her to get ready, 
Mrs. Hawley?” 

‘ ‘ I think it could be done in two weeks, ’ ’ was 
the answer. 

‘ ‘ Mercy ! ’ ’ from Joe ’s mother. ‘ ‘ It could not 
be.” 

“Think that’s ample time?” Mr. Bradbury 
queried. 

“Ample. I’ll help her. People are talking 
about her being out so much with Dick on such 
a short acquaintance.” 

That made even J oe ’s mother laugh. 


346 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


^‘You get the cards out for two weeks, Fa- 
ther,’^ Dick ordered, just as if he was talking 
to the architect who would build the house on 
the Hawley farm; but there was a difference, 
for he took her hand and held it fast, and she, 
probably on account of his recent long illness, 
placed her other hand there, in a protecting and 
a confiding manner. 

‘^So it’s settled,” said Mrs. Hawley. ^‘AVell, 
I’m glad enough. I’ve had an awful amount of 
worry over it. I’ll take the responsibility of 
having her ready in two weeks.” 

And Mrs. Hawley, being a notable example 
of trustworthiness, did actually deliver to the 
society of Thorndike on the appointed day, a 
most bloomingly beautiful and happy person 
who was to be known henceforth as Mrs. Dick 
Bradbury. 


CHAPTER XXXIII 

Planning the work on the ^‘Southern Division.” 

The wedding took place the latter part of 
August. The decision of the railroad regard- 
ing the purchasing of the Thorndike restaurant 
was hurried when it was known that the ‘‘Dick 
Bradburys’’ would go west the first of October. 

J oe ^s mother could not conceal the pride over 
the first provision of the transfer as made by 
the railroad company. 

“Why/’ she said, “they will not buy the 
restaurant if Joe does not agree to help Bobby 
start up the Southern Division places.” 

Raymond Jones was made the “Resident 
Manager” at Thorndike station restaurant. 

“It’s up to me to make good now,” was the 
way the former provision inspector summed up 
his new circumstances. “If I keep my eyes 
peeled I may get to be president of the road. ’ ’ 

It would be difficult for one to recognize in 
the carefully dressed, quietly active fellow who 
went to Thorndike every day the harum-scarum 
347 


348 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


boy who was afraid to go to night school on 
account of the anticipated jeers of his young 
mates. 

^‘That Shorty is a wonder/’ commented Ed. 
Skinner, the engineer of the early morning 
^^up” freight one morning as Raymond passed 
him on the Greenfield station platform. “I de- 
clare, I find myself wondering if I had better 
holler out to him, he’s roaming around in such 
togs.” 

Bobby took Joe on a flying inspection of the 
restaurants already under his control. 

‘‘You’ve certainly got a fine organization,” 
was the latter’s comment. “Everything is 
working splendidly. Once a week is all the 
time you need give with such help looking after 
things. I would not wonder if you were able to 
take complete charge of all the road’s places 
and hold them all the time.” 

But another and a less comfortable impres- 
sion was held by both boys before another week 
passed. They had visited the three restau- 
rants on the Southern Division and were back 
in Thorndike without having reached any defi- 
nite opinion regarding the work before them. 
This afternoon they had met in the restaurant. 


ON THE “SOUTHERN DIVISION^’ 349 


and Joe had just come from a long talk with 
Dick Bradbury. He began: 

^‘We cannot use any of the tactics that have 
helped us out up here, that’s sure. Every train 
carries a dining-car, and no train stops more 
than five minutes. Dick says that it is a case of 
competition we must arrange to handle. We 
haven’t had anything of the kind before. What 
we have been doing is to feed people who came 
to be fed — now we must get the people to come 
to be fed.” 

“There are twenty-five thousand people go- 
ing through each of the three stations on the 
Southern Division every day,” Bobby argued. 

“But they all get their meals somewhere at 
present,” returned Joe. “What we have got 
to do is to take them away from where they go 
now, and get them to come to us.” 

“Suppose that we put an advertisement in 
the papers,” was Bobby’s suggestion. “We 
would catch some of them.” 

“We would have to advertise something 
extraordinary. Almost everybody knows that 
the restaurants are there now.” 

“How about advertising better food — or 
lower prices for the food?” 


350 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


‘‘Well,’’ Joe replied, “Dick doesn’t seem to 
think that wonld draw very well. He says that 
we cannot expect to get mnch business from 
the people who live in the different places where 
the restaurants are, because those people go 
home to eat. He says that people who stop 
at hotels are in the same list, as far as we are 
concerned. He thinks that we have got to go 
after what is called the ‘floating population’ — 
and he means the men and women who come 
in to the towns and do business in the stores 
or about the streets, and then go away. The 
cheaper and better food would only interest 
them, Dick thinks, but if we have something 
that would be in front of them every time they 
turned around while they were in the city, they 
would get to thinking of what we had and would 
be influenced to go to us. He says that is the 
science of advertising, and that an advertise- 
ment in the papers which may or may not be 
seen by a person once, would not have much ef- 
fect. I have been thinking since I left him that 
if we could get a sign put on the front and back 
end of all the street-cars in the cities we would 
be getting as near to Dick’s idea as anything 
would. ’ ’ 


ON THE “SOUTHERN DIVISION’^ 351 

would be immense/’ Bobby declared, 
jumping to his feet in sudden enthusiasm. 

“It would be in front of everybody, and we 
would be the only thing advertised,” mused Joe, 
“but I do not believe we could get the right to 
do it.” 

“We can try it,” Bobby exclaimed. “You 
wait till I work out a thought that has come to 
me.” 

He was away to the telephone booth, and 
when he returned his face showed satisfaction. 

“Mr. Henderson seems to think that it might 
be possible to get the right from the street-car 
companies. He says he will have the president 
of the C. & A. write a letter of introduction to 
the different managers of the car lines.” 

“If we get two electric signs, that will be big 
displays in the daytime, too, and put one each 
side of the track about a mile from the depots, 
that would get the incoming passengers think- 
ing about dinner,” Joe went on. 

“That’s good, too,” Bobby assented. 

The second day after, the boys, armed with 
the letters of introduction, went to the manager 
of the street road in Springfield. Joe had 
suggested this place for a trial of the plan. 


352 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


‘‘If we get a chance to use the cars there,’’ 
he argued, “it will influence the managers of 
the other lines, as it is the largest place of them 
all.” 

The Springfield manager demurred. 

“I don’t know about this,” he began. “We 
would like to accommodate your road, but we 
have never allowed anything but signs adver- 
tising our own features on our dashboards. I’ll 
let you know this afternoon.” 

It was Mr. Henderson who informed the boys 
of the success of their application. The 
Springfield manager had telephoned the head 
offices of the C. & A. and the deal was put 
through without delay. 

In four days the Springfield restaurant had 
undergone a transformation. Beautiful palms 
were set about the place and a uniformed at- 
tendant stood at the gate to announce the 
change of management at the “Palm Restau- 
rant.” Along the streets of Springfield the 
street-cars, coming and going, bore the infor- 
mation, attractively displayed, that the Palm 
Restaurant was prepared to give anything from 
a lunch to a full course dinner at moderate 
prices and with quick service ; while at the loca- 


ON THE “SOUTHERN DIVISION^' 353 


tions beside the railroad track two great signs, 
red and black in the daytime and glaringly elec- 
trified in tbe evening, read : 

THE PALM RESTAURANT. 

SPRINGFIELD. 

Depot Restaurant. Gong strikes Two Minutes Be^ 
fore Trains. 

Best of Everything Served Quickly. 

Lunch or Full Dinner. Reasonable Rates. 

Tbe boys awaited results, feeling that every- 
thing possible had been done. They were not 
to be disappointed. The spnrt of business 
which immediately started held good and in- 
creased. The service was praised, and when it 
became known that the place was under the 
same management as “Bobby and Joe’s’’ it re- 
ceived considerable free advertising from trav- 
elers on the other division. 

In a week Bobby reported to Mr. Henderson 
that one of the Southern Division stands had 
been brought into a paying condition. 

“Yes, I know,” that official replied; “I am 
getting some of the credit because I loaned 
you. There’s a little matter that has come up 
lately that you’ll have to hear pretty soon, so 
I might as well give it to you now. Some of 


354 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


the management want Shorty Jones removed 
from ThorndikeP’ 

Bobby studied the superintendent’s face in 
amazement. At last he demanded: 

‘^What fori” 

‘‘It is thought that it is better not to have a 
man in such a responsible position whose 
mother is only a cook. Besides, it is thought 
that you could get a more prepossessing-looking 
cashier and manager. ’ ’ 

For another minute Bobby studied the mat- 
ter. Then he broke out : 

“I have brought this business up to its pres- 
ent standing without any assistance from the 
management. I don’t want to appear to op- 
pose you in any plan you may have personally, 
but I won’t have any other man in the company 
dictate as to whom I shall hire. I have taught 
Raymond Jones and I feel secure with him at 
Thorndike. You have allowed me to make a 
paying proposition here, but even before I get 
started on this new division the road wants to 
dictate. I won’t stand it.” 

Mr. Henderson did not show emotion of any 
kind. He said : 

‘ ‘ I imagine that there is some one else whom 


ON THE ‘‘SOUTHERN DIVISION 355 

the management would like to give the place 
to.’’ 

“The management had a man here at Green- 
field once.” Bobby’s reply had the tartness of 
a retort. “I will not be responsible for the 
work of any man I do not know. If the road 
wants Eaymond’s place they can also have 
mine. ’ ’ 

“And that is your answer to the road?” 

“It is the only answer I have. I know I am 
right in this. You once said that a road was 
often run by men who knew the least about the 
business, and I will not let such a crowd get a 
hold on me.” 

Mr. Henderson did not refer to the subject 
again that day. Bobby took him to Miss Chad- 
wick’s desk and showed him the balance sheets 
for the last week. He showed no sign of be- 
ing offended, and talked interestingly of the 
work on the Southern Division. When the five- 
ten local came through he went away on her. 

Bobby did not mention his argument with 
Mr. Henderson at home. Even Joe went to 
work on the other Southern Division restau- 
rants without any knowledge of the thoughts 
which sometimes bothered his partner. Work- 


356 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


ing on the same plan which they had adopted 
at Springfield, their method was so successful 
that Joe notified the railroad of his resigna- 
tion from its employ at the end of three weeks, 
and turned his attention to the building of the 
summer home on the Hawley farm. Bobby 
kept pretty closely to the Southern Division 
for two weeks longer, and the two met on even- 
ings to go over the events of the day ; then Mr. 
Henderson was advised that all the Southern 
Division points were paying good profits and 
that Bobby wished to be relieved of further 
responsibility regarding them. The letter 
brought Mr. Henderson to Greenfield the next 
morning. 

‘‘What’s the matter^’ he asked. “Can’t 
you keep an eye on the whole business ? ’ ’ 

“I have thought it over pretty carefully,” 
was Bobby’s answer. “I have shown what can 
be done, but I don’t care to do any more for a 
management that would interfere as you have 
suggested might be done. I am satisfied with 
my old stands.” 

“But it is suggested that you have the han- 
dling of everything in your own way now,” the 
superintendent announced. “I reported your 


ON THE ^‘SOUTHERN DIVISION^’ 357 


answer regarding Jones, and the majority 
backed you up. That’s why you have never 
heard anything further along the line. I want 
you to look out for it all. Will that have any 
effect on you?” 

‘ ‘ It surely will, ’ ’ Bobby returned. ‘ ‘ I should 
be a pretty ungrateful fellow if I was not will- 
ing but glad to do anything you asked of me. 
I’ll handle the whole business, and you can ar- 
range for the extra money that my services will 
be worth, ’ ’ with a laugh. 

Bobby told Joe all about the attempted inter- 
ference of the company officials and its result 
that night. 

‘‘Well,” said his partner, “you have landed 
as I expected you would, on top of everything.” 

“I should not be on top long, if I allowed 
everybody to teU me what to do and how to do 
it.” 

“I should not wonder if you were being 
tested, when the talk of interference was hap- 
pening,” Joe told him. “It does not seem sen- 
sible that one of the officials would want another 
trial of the road’s experience at Greenfield be- 
fore you took hold.” 

“How do you mean — ^my being tested?” 


358 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


^^Mr. Henderson has said that there was 
something larger that he had for yon sometime, 
and I have been thinking he was just trying you 
to see if you were big enough to stand up for 
what you thought was right.” 

It was an entirely new idea for Bobby to pon- 
der over and it kept him busy for some minutes. 
Finally he said : 

‘HVe spent a lot of time wondering what the 
bigger place that he has referred to three times 
could be, but I am still wondering. I’m curious 
about it all right.” 

guess you’re on the right road to catch up 
with it sometime,” Joe prophesied. 

In all this time Joe was having the most fas- 
cinating of all his life’s experiences. He was 
going over plans with a city architect and to 
see his mother’s delight when something new 
for her convenience was inserted into the speci- 
fications was an equal delight for himself. The 
house on the Hawley farm was to be the finest 
in that part of the country. When the plans 
were finally to every one’s satisfaction, the ar- 
chitect was to superintend the building, and 
receive a percentage on the cost for doing so. 
This arrangement was necessary, because Hick 


ON THE ‘‘SOUTHERN DIVISION’" 359 


^aid that Joe must go west with him and could 
not superintend the building. 

A week before the migration of the ^^Dick 
Bradburys,” Bobby and Joe had their last con- 
sultation. They were in the Thorndike restau- 
rant. Bobby had discontinued the signs on 
street-cars nearly a month before. He had not 
noticed any decrease in business and he wanted 
Joe’s idea of continuing advertising. 

“I expected that there would be some drop- 
ping off in customers,” he now said. 

“It was a great piece of work,” Joe returned, 
“to hold people’s attention so well. Dick says 
that a business should advertise to at least ten 
per cent of its profits always. Otherwise it 
wiU fall back. He says that even if a man has 
no competition he should advertise. You know 
‘Bobby and Joe’s Mince Pies’ stirred things up, 
and we had no competition,” with a laugh. 

“Must have made people hungry to talk 
about them,” was Bobby’s reply. “It cer- 
tainly sold pies.” 

“I was thinking of a scheme you might use,” 
Joe went on. “Issue check tickets at one, two, 
and five dollars each. If a customer brings in 
fifteen dollars worth of punched tickets, give 


360 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


him one of the dollar tickets. That would be 
about ten per cent for advertising; that is, ten 
per cent of the profit. Any person would like 
to get a dollar meal-ticket free. You would be 
giving your customer an inducement that would 
bring him back again.’’ 

‘^Well,” said Bobby, “I guess Dick’s right. 
When you consider that the week before we 
took hold at Springfield the restaurant made a 
profit of nine dollars, and that last week the 
profit was eighty dollars, we’U have to say that 
advertising pays. I’ll start a regular adver- 
tising account and pay it ten dollars a week.” 

The ‘^rebate” plan started in well. With 
several hundred travelers from all sections of 
the State carrying ‘^Palm Restaurant” tickets 
and explaining to their friends that there was 
a certain value to ‘‘Palm Restaurant” tickets, 
even after all the meals were punched out, it is 
not to be wondered at that the tickets soon be- 
came popular. 

Affairs with both Bobby and Joe were most 
satisfactory. Mr, Henderson had not men- 
tioned the removal of Raymond Jones since 
that first time when he had met decided op- 
position. The Southern Division restaurants 


ON THE “SOUTHERN DIVISION” 


361 


were ‘‘gilt-edged’^ properties to the railroad 
company, and any proposition that suggested 
interference with their manager would now he 
frowned upon by the most persistent meddler 
in railroad management. Miss Chadwick had 
mastered a typewriter, and her reports, now 
embracing all divisions, were a source of ad- 
miration to the auditing department of the 
road. 

With Joe everything was in readiness for 
departure. He had never known that he had 
so many friends to give well wishes. Dick 
Bradbury was very proud of the good feeling 
from all sides toward his wife, and Phoebe was 
so gentle and so prettily pleased at the show of 
atfection that she declared that : 

“No one but Dick Bradbury could ever have 
taken me away from Thorndike.” 

The last thing the Bradburys saw in riding 
away from Thorndike was the restaurant, 
which, according with the terms of sale, was 
to be forever known by its sign as, 


Bobby and Joe’s. 


CHAPTER XXXIV 

Mr. Henderson’s big proposition is unfolded. 

Three years went by — years of prosperity 
for all tbe restaurants on the C. & A. system. 
Robert Hawley was held in such high esteem 
that a social visit from him to the executive of 
the company was a welcome and not infrequent 
occurrence. A young man who, at twenty-three 
years of age, has secured the confidence of his 
superiors in business, is always welcomed at 
headquarters. 

His experience with the world had given Rob- 
ert the carriage and deportment of a man of 
affairs. He was not afraid of meeting any 
man in any station in life. He knew that while 
he conducted himself respectfully, he was as 
good as any other man. Another might have 
the advantage of wealth, but he knew that 
wealth was but a temporary advantage. Op- 
portunity was at his own hand for the better- 
ment of his financial condition. 

Long ago Mrs. Hawley had called on Miss 
362 


MR. HENDERSON BIG PROPOSITION 363 


Chadwick at the latter’s home and had become 
fascinated with the yonng lady. 

am simply delighted with her,” she re- 
ported at home, ^‘and I think that Robert has 
shown a lot of sense in choosing her to help him 
through life.” 

Mr. Hawley was inclined to laugh at what he 
termed the ^infatuation of the Hawley fam- 
ily,” but when Robert brought the girl home, 
and the father heard her play on the violin, 
and studied her sweet, modest ways, so like 
those of his wife, there was observed an im- 
mediate addition in the ranks of the ^infatu- 
ated” ones. 

Some months later, when Mrs. Hawley was 
ill, the girl assisted at the Hawley farm for a 
week, while the manager of the C. & A. Co. 
restaurants took the cashier’s desk at Green- 
field. At the finish of that illness it was Mr. 
Hawley who suggested that the young people 
come to some definite understanding as regards 
future relationship. 

‘Hf you don’t marry her in a reasonable time, 
some one else will get her, and she’s too good 
to lose,” was the father’s terse arrangement of 
the case. 


364 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


The same had been Robertas opinion for a 
long time, and seeing no possible objector ex- 
cept the girl herself, he arranged matters 
quickly and satisfactorily. It was then di- 
vulged what an excellent cashier had been in 
possession at Greenfield. Miss Chadwick had 
instructed her younger sister into all the mys- 
teries of the counting department as a safe- 
guard against sickness on her own part, and 
now the change of cashiers was made with so 
little disturbance that the auditing department 
never knew about it. The reports continued to 
come in with undiminished accuracy. The first 
to know was Mr. Henderson. 

^‘Cashier sickT’ he asked one morning. 

‘‘No,’^ was the answer. ^^She^s gone.’’ 

The superintendent’s face showed surprise, 
thought she was indispensable,” he con- 
tinued. 

‘‘Well,” Robert explained, “my father and 
mother wanted her, and this girl is her sister 
and has been brought up as her understudy — in 
case of sickness.” 

“Your folks sick?” Mr. Henderson was 
puzzled over it. 

“No,” laughing, “I suppose I’m the sickest 


MR. HENDERSON BIO PROPOSITION 365 


one, though the family want her, too. I’m go- 
ing to take her home for good and all.” 

Mr. Henderson was profuse in his congratu- 
lations. 

never saw a girl who attended to business 
as she has,” he declared. She’s methodical, 
and quiet, and trustworthy. That’s a combina- 
tion in any person that will carry up the long- 
est hill. You’re a lucky fellow. They say she 
is a fine violinist. As for personal attractions, 
she possesses all that the law ought to allow any 
girl.” 

‘^That’s the general impression up at the 
house, ’ ’ was the happy, laughing retort. 

All the morning the superintendent appeared 
thoughtful. At noon he suggested : 

<<I’ve got something to tell you while we have 
dinner.” 

When they sat at table Bobby observed: 

^‘The last time we had an important confer- 
ence, you asked me to change cashiers at 
Thorndike. ’ ’ 

Mr. Henderson threw back his head and 
laughed. 

^‘When I put your answer before the hoard, 
there was a collapse on interference. A large 


366 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


majority were with you and at last the prin- 
cipal ‘mixer’ conceded that you must he a colt 
of fiery mettle and he hoped you would not get 
tangled in the traces. He withdrew his sug- 
gestion of the change. The fact is, I was 
pleased that you spoke up. I have been sort of 
grooming you for another position, as I have 
before hinted.” 

‘ ‘ The position that needed years on my head 
before the chance to consider would come!” 

“Yes. If you think of marrying you had 
better know about it. Going to set up a home ? ’ ’ 

“No. Father and Mother won’t let me. 
We have got to live with them.” 

“Well, that’s all right. We’ll get down to 
business at once. It relates to the three hotels 
out in Thorndike. ’ ’ 

Bobby was so surprised that he could say 
nothing. He could only look. What he could 
possibly have to do with the three hotels puz- 
zled him greatly. Mr. Henderson went on: 

“Our hotels have been losing money, or just 
holding their own for a long time. The Thor- 
wald has been making a little money, and could 
have done well, but it has been run without re- 
gard to profits. Two years ago Mr. Hartwell 


MR. HENDERSON’S BIG PROPOSITION 367 

said you could take Bold of our hotels and build 
the business up, but I did not believe it right to 
risk your making a failure. I thought you 
needed a few more years on you.’’ 

The subject matter of the superintendent’s 
plan for the future was clear to the young man- 
ager and he was amazed. He had conquered 
unusual situations, but this project looked stu- 
pendous to him. 

<< There’s a new aspect to the hotel proposi- 
tion now,” continued Mr. Henderson. ‘‘The 
largest stockholder in the Thorwald has been 
elected a director in the railroad. The long 
and short of it is that we can get the remainder 
of the Thorwald stock, and put you in charge 
of the three places at a salary of, at first, four 
thousand dollars a year. There would be a 
big saving there, for the management of the 
three places is now costing twelve thousand. 
The provision account of the restaurants under 
your control shows that a great deal of money 
is wasted in the provisioning of the hotels. 
Now are you old enough to handle the thing?” 

There was no immediate answer. Bobby was 
doing the quickest thinking that had been ever 
called for from his unusually active brain. He 


368 MB. BESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


was conscious of an exultation that was rapidly 
surmounting the timidity which the magnitude 
of the proposition had at first evoked. When 
he did speak, the superintendent was pleased at 
the caution displayed. 

‘‘I would have to think over a thing like this. 
There’s a lot of responsibility in it.” 

‘‘You have been carrying responsibility right 
along,” came the retort. “This is almost iden- 
tically the same work as you have been doing 
to the satisfaction of every one. I am not mak- 
ing you an otfer, but only sounding you. If you 
are ready to talk business I’ll get matters in 
shape. ’ ’ 

Bobby was fully awake to his opportunity 
now. 

“You and Mr. Hartwell think that I can do 
it, and I believe myself that I can. If there is 
a chance here, I want it.” 

“Hartwell said that you had ‘proved up’ 
when you refused to remove the Jones fellow 
from Thorndike restaurant,” Mr. Henderson 
divulged. “That was a feather in your cap. 
Hartwell said that you knew what you wanted 
to work with as well as how to work with what 
you had.” 


]VIB. HENDERSON BIG PROPOSITION 369 


talk this hotel business over with my 
father,” Bobby said. He was pretty serious, 
as such an offer would likely make any one in 
his position, but he was practically decided al- 
ready to accept the promotion. 

course, if you do not want the hotels I 
want you to keep right on as you are. So your 
future is settled — but even the four thousand 
which we will pay is a large increase over what 
you receive now, and if you should pull the ho- 
tels on to a good paying basis, your prospects 
are brilliant enough to satisfy a man twice your 
age. I think you can win out. ’ ^ 

That night the plan was unfolded at the Haw- 
ley farm. Mrs. Hawley listened in excited im- 
patience, saying quickly when all was told: 

‘‘You said you would, Bobby, didnT you?” 

“I said that I would think it over,” was 
Bobby’s reply, and Mr. Hawley observing the 
disappointment on his wife ’s face, suggested : 

“I think that was the thing to say. It’s a 
tremendous responsibility. If he were ten 
years older — ” 

“But suppose they give some one else the 
chance,” Mrs. Hawley was almost sobbing over 
the thought. 


370 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


do not believe they Mr. Hawley 

smiled as be said it and bis wife was partially 
reassured. ‘^Corporations do not jump at any 
untried man. Bobby’s experience is worth 
enough to bring him the offer.” 

The father’s summing up of the case was most 
accurate. In two days Mr. Henderson was up 
to talk the matter over further. 

“I’m going to take the hotels if I can get 
them,” Bobby informed him. 

“I expected that you would decide to do it,” 
was the reply. “I should have been disap- 
pointed in you if you had let the opportunity 
slide by you. If the restaurants can’t be han- 
dled right we’ll sell them. There are plenty 
who will buy at their present stage of fine 
profit.” 

“I would not want to see them change 
hands,” Bobby declared. “I have such a well- 
trained lot of help that I could run them to-day, 
from my home, by telephone. ’ ’ 

Mr. Henderson showed his satisfaction. 

“If you could make the hotels pay and keep 
the restaurants along at the same time, you 
could have about anything you might want from 
the road. You’ve demonstrated your fitness 


MR. HENDERSON’S BIG PROPOSITION 371 


for this kind of business, otherwise the road 
would not consider this project. There has 
been a wrangle over the 'Hartwell Hotels’ as 
they are called, for ten years — a faction saying 
that the road had no business to enter into the 
catering business — hut Hartwell was set about 
it, and kept the places going. There’s nothing 
better for you in a business way in this coun- 
try, than to put the hotels on a paying basis. 
Now you’re going to marry. Of course you 
will occupy a suite, and a good one, in either 
hotel you decide on. You cannot live with your 
father and mother, but they will be satisfied 
if you are near them. ’ ’ 

"I have thought that I would get Dick Brad- 
bury to stop the first season with me. He is 
going to make alterations in his house on the 
hill, and I think I can get him to do it during 
my first season as manager. ’ ’ 

Mr. Henderson brought his hand down on the 
younger man’s shoulder in an enthusiasm he 
was unable to control. 

"If you should get Senator Bradbury and his 
wife to stop at the Thorwald during your first 
season, you’re made,” he exclaimed. "The 
Senator swings an immense influence in poli- 


372 MB. BESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


tics as well as business. You would get a big 
business from Washington if it was known that 
he would spend the summer with you. As for 
that beautiful wife of his — ^you think you can 
get them! You’re pretty sure of it?” 

‘‘If Mrs. Bradbury and the Senator do not 
come to my wedding, I’ll be a mighty disap- 
pointed man,” was the answer. 

“This is the kind of news that will please 
Hartwell,” the superintendent said, much in- 
terested. “He will blame me for keeping you 
in the background, while he has been advoca- 
ting bringing you forward, but the time has not 
been ripe for the deal until now. It’s just ripe 

if 


now. 


CHAPTER XXXV 
A Wedding. 

Of course the manager of the restaurants 
told Miss Chadwick all the day’s events, that 
evening, and of course the girl was delighted. 

am pleased that you will have the hotels, 
but then you are provided for without them,” 
she said. ‘‘I never thought that I should have 
the honor of having Mrs. Senator Bradbury as 
a wedding guest,” blushing at the display of 
vanity. ‘ ^ There was a long article about her 
in the magazines, within a month. It told of 
her elegant gowns, of her devotion to her hus- 
band, and of her pretty domestic traits which 
had not been interfered with in her mingling 
with the highest society.” 

“She cannot play the violin,” her future 
husband stipulated. “Domestic traits and 
gowns can be acquired — and as for beauty, she 
only has a portion of it and there is some out- 
side of the Bradbury family. I’m sure that if 
you and Joe’s mother were together, and you 
373 


374 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


wore that pretty white dress and played the 
violin, and Joe’s mother should have on the 
most gorgeous costume she possesses, you 
would get the most of the attention. I think 
that is my family’s opinion, too.” 

The girl laughed, as she retorted: 

‘‘It’s nice to have you think so; but I shall 
be delighted to have her come. The article 
said that she spends much of her time inquir- 
ing into the needs of the poor. She always 
drives her husband to and from the Senate 
chamber. It also said that her home was a 
favorite resort of the families of the foreign 
diplomats. It quite frightens me when I think 
that she might come to my wedding, but when 
you say she is so gentle and kind, I feel so proud 
that I forget to be frightened. ’ ’ 

“Joe will be my ‘best man’ of course. When 
I think that Joe is a director of a big railroad, 
of a bank, a street-car line, and a half a dozen 
other enterprises, and he not quite twenty-five 
years old — and then I think of how he and I 
were selling pond-lilies not so very long ago — 
I sometimes find myself a little skeptical about 
its being either of us, after all. ’ ’ 

“Perhaps other people will think you have 


A WEDDING 


375 


done something, when you are manager of three 
hotels, ’ ’ was her quiet retort. 

everybody knew all about it, it would be 
said that a part of my good fortune came from 
having an expert accountant close at hand,’’ he 
said, and she interrupted with : 

^^As you have shown such good judgment 
as to arrange for the accountant’s being always 
near, we’ll work awfully hard to make a suc- 
cess, wherever we are.” 

In a month every detail was perfected in the 
absorption of the Thorwald House, and the 
business of the three places was turned over to 
the new manager. Extensive improvements 
were being planned. In two months a wedding 
took place at the Hawley farm. 

The pretty bride’s happiness was complete 
when Mrs. Senator Bradbury, with her hus- 
band at one side and Joe at the other, ap- 
proached her. 

hope that I may become as good as you 
are,” she said, when they had conversed some 
time. 

Joe’s mother turned her wonderful, deep 
beautiful eyes on her husband, enquiringly. 


376 MR. RESPONSIBILITY, PARTNER 


^ ‘ Perhaps she means as good to look at, ’ ’ was 
the financier-senator’s explanation. 

‘‘No,” the bride corrected, “I have read so 
much abont you — about how happy you are in 
your work — ” 

“I’ll give you my recipe,” said the older 
woman, her laugh covering the flush of pleas- 
ure. “Try to be a real helpmate, and give 
your first and best thoughts to your home.” 

Senator Bradbury tucked his wife’s hand un- 
der his arm and laughed contentedly. The 
Hartwells came up and joined in the conversa- 
tion. Later when Henry Bradbury and wife 
with Mr. and Mrs. Marsh, the Hick Bradburys 
and the Hawleys, father and son, with their 
wives were congregated in the sitting room, the 
senior partner of the old-time firm of “Bobby 
and Joe’s” asked: 

“About when shall I plan to come out west 
to act as your best man, Joe?” The newly- 
made bride looked out from behind her hus- 
band’s arm to catch the slow answer : 

“I live in such an ideal atmosphere that I’m 
inclined to think that I shall never have the 
courage to try a change. ’ ’ 

“If you know of any nice girl for Joe, 


A WEDDING 


377 


Bobby,’’ broke in Senator Bradbury, ‘‘we’ll be 
glad to welcome her into our peculiar atmos- 
phere. There’s a lot of girls out our way who 
sigh as he passes by, but there seems to he no 
particular one. I think that if there ever is 
one, it will have to be through a second per- 
son’s finding, and I’m too busy to work up a 
campaign for him. He seems wholly unable to 
help himself in the matter.” 

Joe did not even blush, though the laugh at 
his expense was hearty. 

“I think I know some one who might assist,” 
Mr. Hawley interposed with feigned serious- 
ness. 

“Now, John Hawley, you keep quiet,” re- 
monstrated Mrs. Hawley, and emphasized any 
objection she might have to a continuance of the 
conversation in its present direction, by taking 
her husband out of the room. 


CHAPTER XXXVI 
Conclusion. 

With such a business training as the young * 
man had, and with such sterling principles to 
found his training on, it is not to be wondered 
at that Robert Hawley became a successful hotel 
manager. He had good friends, but not one of 
them came to him by accident. Every one had 
seen that in his make-up which had more real 
value than money — ^honest accomplishment — 
and they were glad of an opportunity to put 
their money against the other species of capital 
which he had to give. The three hotels became 
famous, and a new departure was the keeping 
open of the Thorwald through the winter. 
Thousands of people throughout the land look 
back on those winter sports at the big hotel as 
the most pleasant experiences of their lives. 

Mr. Henderson became General Manager of 
the C. & A. He often said that his good luck 
lay in the fact that he had “found Bobby Haw- 
ley.’^ At all events, the two have remained 
378 


CONCLUSION 


379 


great friends. Old Mr. Bradbury is to-day re- 
membered as a quiet, unassuming pilgrim of 
life who went his way without harm to any man, 
but with blessings from many. 

The Hawleys, father and son, and their wives, 
and all their friends go on their ways, enjoying 
the good opinion of their fellow men, and se- 
cure against reverses as far as careful plan- 
ning by clean consciences can make any one 
secure. 

Thorndike is the same old-fashioned town to- 
day, as when the Hawley raft was first put on 
the lake. Many a traveler remembers the first 
glimpse of the little New England village he 
got — with its snowy-white streets bathed in the 
morning sunlight; of the simple healthfulness 
of it all, and of the almost quaintly designed 
restaurant which was known so long as ^ ^ Bobby 
and Joe^s.’’ 


THE END 



U. S. SERVICE SERIES 

By FRANCIS ROLT-WHEELER 

Illustrations from photographs taken in work for U. S. Government 

Large 121110 Cloth $1.50 per volume 


THE BOY WITH THE U. S. SURVEY 



A PPEALING to the boy’s love of excitement, 
this series gives actual experiences in the 
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story describes the thrilling adventures of members 
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WINNING HIS SHOULDER STRAPS 


, WINNING HIS 
SHOULDRSTRAPS 


A rousing story of life in a military school 
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WINNING THE EAGLE 
PRIZE 

T he hero not only works his way at Chatham Military School after his 
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NORMAN BRAINERD 


WINNING THE 
JUNIOR CUP 


WINNING 
THE JUNIOR CUP 

A CUP is to be presented by the J unior class to the 
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*• The high tone of most of the boys, their comrade, 
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Larry Burke.” — Louisville Courier-Journal, 

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Every place of the social and athletic side of a 
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ST. DUNS TAN SERIES 

By WARREN L. ELDRED 

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THE CRIMSON RAMBLERS 

T his is a story of jolly life at St. Dunstan’s 
School, supposed to be in a village on the 
Hudson river. During an eventful school year, 
five close friends in the freshman class, and a 
teacher of the best sort, plan for a summer vaca- 
tion in camp in Maine, and being encouraged in 
a fondness for that best of all exercises, walking, 
they adopt the name which gives the title to the 
book, and having gone to Boston by water, 
complete their journey on foot, with plenty of 
adventures along the way. 

“ The boys are active, fun-loving, friendly fellows, 
not averse to running- risks, but always landing on 
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form the material of a good story, told -with animation 
and an evident understanding of boy nature .” — The Christian Register, 

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tone and at the same time so admirably written .” — Boston Herald. 

CAMP ST. DUNSTAN 

C AMP ST, DUNSTAN is a complete story in 
itself, although following the fortunes of the 
‘‘Fearless Four” and their well-liked friend and 
teacher who as the “Crimson Ramblers” took 
an interesting trip, partly on foot, from their 
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ing ground in Maine. A typical summer camp 
for boys, with all its interesting routine, is 
described in connection with the story. In- 
teresting new characters are introduced, a 
mystery develops, and every element of a good 
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characters are as interesting as his stories are clean and wholesome. 

“ Mr. Eldred knows how to tell an animated, wholesome story and no one will 
feel the least desire to skip a single one of his entertaining pages .” — Boston 
Transcript. 

For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of 
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JUL 30 1912 




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